Digital

Digital technologies and platforms, such as apps and online cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), have become a key part of mental health services across England. Digital approaches can help to improve access to care, provide early intervention and help to reduce inequalities in mental health, but are not always being used to their full potential (Mental Health Network NHS Confederation, 2023). Effective implementation of evidence based digital health technologies is critical to delivery of priorities. Digital health technology (DHT) can support people at different points of their journey:

• Treating and diagnosing mental health conditions, or guiding care choices
• Helping citizens and patients to manage their own mental health
• Save costs or release staff time

The NHS Confederation has worked with leaders across the mental health sector and experts by experience to identify key themes for utilising digital approaches to mental health (Mental Health Network NHS Confederation, 2023):

1. Developing a compelling narrative around how digital approaches can meet the needs of the population.
2. Lived experience should be a core part of service development and delivery.
3. Working with partners across integrated care systems to deliver joined-up support.
4. Focusing on inclusion and aiming to reduce inequalities rather than exacerbate them through digital exclusion.
5. Creating learning opportunities to develop and share insights.
6. Supporting innovation, research and development.
7. Focusing on regulation, standards, quality and safety.

There are benefits and risks to using digital tools in healthcare as digital exclusion (lacking the access, skills and confidence to use the internet and benefit fully from digital technology in everyday life) can exacerbate health inequalities. The NHS has recently published a framework on digital inclusion which highlights 5 areas of action (NHS England, 2023b):

1. ‘Access to devices and data so that everyone can access digital healthcare if they choose to and experience the benefits
2. Accessibility and ease of using technology, so that user-centred digital content and products are co-designed and deliver excellent patient outcomes
3. Skills and capability so that everyone has the skills to use digital approaches and health services respond to the capabilities of all
4. Beliefs and trust so that people understand and feel confident using digital health approaches
5. Leadership and partnerships so that digital inclusion efforts are co-ordinated and help to reduce health inequalities’.

Additional resources

• Maximising the potential of digital in mental health
• Work underway in the digital mental health landscape
• Digital exclusion & health inequalities
• Unlocking The Digital Front Door: Keys to inclusive healthcare

References

Full list of references is included at the end of this chapter.

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