The Story Behind SPARX
The story so far
In the early 2000s, it was often difficult for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand who were feeling down or experiencing depression to get the help they needed. Even when support was available, many young people didn't feel comfortable talking to a therapist.
Researchers Dr Karolina Stasiak and Professor Sally Merry wondered whether Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) could be delivered in the form of a video game. As part of her PhD research, Dr Stasiak developed the first version of SPARX on CD-ROM and showed that this approach could work.
The young people who took part in the study gave valuable feedback. They wanted to spend less time reading and more time playing. Taking this on board, the SPARX development team came together with young people in 2008 to brainstorm how to make the programme more engaging, interactive, and fun. From these ideas, SPARX was born. SPARX was then tested in a randomised controlled trial, which showed that it was an effective treatment for young people experiencing mild to moderate depression. Following these successful results, the New Zealand Government funded the wider rollout of SPARX.
In 2014, SPARX was launched as a free web-based programme, making evidence-based mental health support more accessible to young people across Aotearoa. Since then, SPARX has also become available as a mobile app, allowing young people to access CBT whenever and wherever they need it.
Today, SPARX continues to support thousands of young people by providing a safe, engaging, and evidence-based way to learn practical skills for managing their mental health.
Those who made it happen
Prof. Sally Merry
Professor Sally Merry conceived the idea for SPARX while working in the overstretched community mental health services that were unable to help all the local rangatahi in need.
Dr. Karolina Stasiak
Dr. Stasiak’s PhD project became the prototype for SPARX, which she then co-created and trialed with youth.
Dr. Mathijs Lucassen
Working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Dr. Lucassen was heavily involved in the development of SPARX, going on to create SPARX: The Rainbow Version.
Assoc Prof. Matthew Shepherd
With experience as a clinician in the child and adolescent mental health field, Matt was instrumental in developing SPARX and its relevance to rangatahi Māori and their whānau.
Assoc Prof. Terry Fleming
Terry Fleming joined SPARX development to help put evidence-based therapies in the hands of those working closely with young people.
Awards and Recognition
World Summit Award
The World Summit Awards honour excellence in multimedia and e-Content creation. Forty winners (five in each category) are selected from 100 countries. The World Summit Awards are under the auspices of United Nations.
International Digital Award
Netexplo is a ‘global observatory on digital society’, hosted by UNESCO. The awards were presented for projects that Netexplo call “the 10 most innovative and promising digital initiatives of the year”.
Gold Winner in Website Design
Gold Winner in Websites Design for Social Change
The award showcases the work of innovative design agencies and individual designers across various industries, including those in the non-profit and social change arena.
