Researchers created a website tool designed specifically for people with serious mental illness to help them eat healthier, focusing on nutrition knowledge, meal preparation skills, and technology comfort. According to Gram Research analysis, early testing with 20 participants including people with lived mental illness experience showed the tool was easy to use and helpful, with users highlighting the importance of simple navigation, plain language, short videos, visual supports, and reminders. While promising, larger studies are needed to prove it actually improves eating habits and health over time.
Researchers created a new website tool to help people with serious mental illness improve their eating habits. According to Gram Research analysis, the tool was designed with input from people who actually live with mental illness and the doctors who treat them. The website focuses on three main goals: teaching better nutrition knowledge, showing how to prepare meals, and making it easier to use technology. The design uses simple words, short videos, and visual pictures to make it easy to understand. Early testing shows people find it helpful and easy to use, with features like reminders and rewards to keep them engaged.
Key Statistics
A 2026 research study involving 20 participants, including individuals with lived experience of serious mental illness and mental health professionals, found that a co-designed web-based nutrition tool was rated as highly usable and helpful for improving eating habits.
According to research reviewed by Gram, participants in the nutrition intervention design process identified simple navigation, plain language, short videos, and visual supports as the most important features for helping people with serious mental illness engage with digital nutrition tools.
A 2026 study found that involving people with serious mental illness directly in the design process of digital health tools, rather than designing for them without input, resulted in an intervention aligned with Universal Design principles supporting equitable and non-stigmatizing access.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Can a specially designed website help people with serious mental illness learn to eat better and prepare healthier meals?
- Who participated: Twenty people total, including individuals living with serious mental illness and mental health professionals who work with them
- Key finding: The website tool was found to be easy to use and helpful, with participants saying simple navigation, plain language, short videos, and visual supports were most important for success
- What it means for you: If you or someone you care about has serious mental illness, a tool like this could make it easier to improve eating habits without feeling overwhelmed or confused. However, this is early-stage research, so more testing is needed before it becomes widely available.
The Research Details
Researchers followed a careful three-stage, eight-step process to build this nutrition website. First, they studied what changes would help people most, identifying three key areas: nutrition knowledge, meal preparation skills, and comfort using digital tools. Then, they brought together 20 people, including those with lived experience of mental illness and mental health professionals, to help design the website together. This co-design approach means the people who will actually use the tool had a say in how it was built. Finally, they tested the website with real users to see if it was easy to use and made sense.
The researchers used something called the Behaviour Change Wheel, which is a scientific framework that helps designers understand how to encourage people to change their habits. They also followed Universal Design principles, which means making something that works well for everyone, including people with different abilities and needs. This approach ensures the website is not confusing or embarrassing to use.
The website includes features like simple navigation (easy to find things), plain language (no confusing medical words), short videos, visual pictures and symbols, reminders to use the app, and incentives like rewards to keep people motivated.
People with serious mental illness often have worse health and shorter lifespans than others, partly because of poor nutrition and unhealthy eating habits. Most nutrition apps and websites are not designed with their needs in mind, which can make them hard to use or confusing. By involving people with mental illness in the design process from the start, researchers created something that actually works for them instead of guessing what they might need.
This study is strong because it included real people with lived experience in the design process, not just experts. The researchers tested the website with actual users and made changes based on their feedback. However, this is early-stage research with a small group of 20 people, so larger studies are needed to prove it really helps people eat better over time. The study was published in 2026 in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning other experts reviewed the work before publication.
What the Results Show
The website was rated as easy to use and helpful by the people who tested it. Participants said the most important features were simple navigation (easy to find buttons and information), plain language (avoiding confusing medical terms), short videos (easier to watch than long ones), and visual supports like pictures and symbols (helping people understand without reading a lot). People also said they wanted reminders to use the app and rewards or incentives to stay motivated.
The researchers made changes to the website based on this feedback, improving how people navigate through it, how content is delivered, and accessibility features to make sure everyone can use it. The final version was designed following Universal Design principles, which means it works well for people with different abilities, learning styles, and needs.
The website focuses on three main areas: teaching nutrition knowledge (what foods are healthy and why), showing how to prepare meals (step-by-step cooking instructions), and building comfort with using digital tools (technology skills). Staff involvement was also highlighted as important, meaning mental health workers can help guide people through the tool.
The research found that people with serious mental illness want digital tools that do not feel stigmatizing or embarrassing to use. They appreciated that the website was designed specifically for them, not just adapted from tools made for everyone else. The involvement of mental health professionals in the design process was also valuable, as they could explain what barriers their clients face and what would actually help them succeed.
Most nutrition apps and websites are designed for the general public and do not consider the unique challenges people with serious mental illness face, such as difficulty concentrating, side effects from medications that affect appetite, or limited access to resources. This research is important because it shows that taking time to design tools specifically for this population, with their input, creates something much more useful. The use of co-design and behavioral science together is a newer approach that is gaining support in digital health research.
This study is small, with only 20 people involved in the design process. It does not yet show whether people actually use the website over time or whether it truly helps them eat better and improve their health. The study tested usability (whether it is easy to use) but not effectiveness (whether it actually works to change eating habits). More research with larger groups of people, followed over months or years, is needed to prove this tool really helps. Additionally, the study does not report on cost or whether mental health clinics will actually adopt this tool in practice.
The Bottom Line
This research suggests that digital nutrition tools designed specifically for people with serious mental illness, with their input and using behavioral science, are promising and worth further development. Moderate confidence: The early testing is positive, but larger studies are needed. If you have serious mental illness and struggle with nutrition, ask your mental health provider if they know about tools like this, or watch for this website to become available in the future.
People with serious mental illness (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression) who want to improve their eating habits should care about this research. Mental health professionals, clinic administrators, and digital health designers should also pay attention, as this shows how to build tools that actually work for this population. People without mental illness may not find this tool useful, as it was specifically designed for different needs.
This is very early-stage research. The website has been tested for usability (ease of use) but not yet for real-world results. It may take 1 to 3 years of additional research before this tool is available to the public. If it does become available, you would likely need to use it regularly (several times per week) for several months to see changes in your eating habits and health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people with mental illness use regular nutrition apps, or do they need something special?
Regular nutrition apps often use confusing medical language and complex navigation that can overwhelm people with serious mental illness. Research shows apps designed specifically for this population, with simple language, short videos, and visual supports, work much better and feel less embarrassing to use.
What makes this nutrition tool different from other health apps?
This tool was designed with input from people who actually have serious mental illness, not just experts guessing what they need. It uses plain language, short videos, visual pictures, reminders, and rewards. It also focuses on three specific areas: nutrition knowledge, meal preparation skills, and comfort using technology.
Does this app actually help people eat better and get healthier?
Early testing shows the app is easy to use and people like it, but larger studies over longer time periods are needed to prove it actually changes eating habits and improves health. This is promising early research, not yet proven to work in real life.
Who should use this nutrition website tool?
This tool was designed for people with serious mental illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression who want to improve their eating. It may not be helpful for people without mental illness, as it addresses specific challenges this population faces.
When will this nutrition app be available to use?
The tool is still in early development. Researchers need to do more testing with larger groups before it becomes available to the public, which may take 1 to 3 years. Ask your mental health provider if they know about similar tools or when this one might be available.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track weekly meal preparation attempts (how many times you prepared a meal using the app’s guidance) and daily nutrition knowledge quiz completion (simple questions about healthy eating). Set a goal of 3 to 4 meal preparations per week and one quiz per day.
- Start with one small change: pick one meal per week to prepare using the app’s step-by-step video guide. Once that feels comfortable, add a second meal. Use the app’s reminder feature to send you notifications on the days you plan to cook.
- Check in every two weeks to see if you are completing the meal preparations and quizzes. After one month, reflect on whether you feel more confident cooking or understanding nutrition. After three months, ask yourself if your eating habits have improved and if you feel healthier. Share progress with your mental health provider or a trusted person who can offer support.
This research describes an early-stage digital tool that has been tested for usability but not yet proven to improve eating habits or health outcomes in real-world use. This article is for educational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or mental health provider. If you have serious mental illness and want to improve your nutrition, talk to your healthcare team about what approaches are right for you. Do not start any new diet or nutrition program without consulting your healthcare provider, especially if you take medications that affect appetite or nutrition.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.