Well-being Training for Adolescent Depressive Symptoms (TeenWell Study)

This study is being done to see if the Healthy Minds Program app helps adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms. Up to 200 participants will be on study for 20 weeks.

Participants will be randomized into one of two groups: Healthy Minds Program intervention group (HMP) or a water tracking active control group. The groups will use different mobile health apps for eight weeks. All participants will complete assessments pre-intervention, after weeks 2, 4, and 6 of the intervention, at week 8 (post-intervention), and at week 20 (follow-up). Participants will complete a short daily diary set of questions on their social interactions that day. Participants will wear a Biostrap band for continuous collection of heart rate, movement, and daily sleep indices, and geolocation data will be extracted from participant phones using the FollowMee app. Participants will receive access to the app they were not assigned to after follow-up. Primary Objective * Assess acceptability and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week mHealth meditation training program on depressive symptoms. Secondary Objectives * Investigate effects of the meditation training program on symptoms of anxiety, behavior (social isolation), psychophysiological processes related to health and disease (e.g., sleep). Test changes in behavior and psychophysiology as mechanisms of improved mental health. Test whether improved mental health is associated with improved academic outcomes.