MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION THROUGH MOBILE APPLICATIONS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW FOCUSING ON CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the scientific literature on the use and/or development of educational mobile applications focused on childhood anxiety and mental health through an integrative literature review. The research was conducted in the LILACS, MEDLINE, Coleciona SUS, BDENF, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, considering publications between 2017 and 2025. A total of 15 studies were included, comprising 13 scientific articles and two monographs, which demonstrated the application of mobile technologies across different health-related topics. The results highlighted the potential of these applications as tools for promoting children's mental health, fostering engagement and the recognition of signs of psychological distress. However, methodological limitations were identified, such as limited clinical validation, small sample sizes, and short follow-up periods, in addition to challenges related to data privacy, digital exclusion, and the stigma associated with mental health. It is concluded that, although mobile applications offer relevant opportunities for mental health education in childhood, their integration into child and adolescent care still requires methodological improvement, scientific validation, and attention to ethical and accessibility issues.