Digital Inclusion in Mental Health – A Guide to Help Increase Choice and Improve Access to Digital Mental Health Services

This guide aims to help mental health service providers ensure all individuals in need of mental health services have choice in the care they receive, and nobody is excluded due to a lack of digital access, confidence or skills.

Click here for the Association of Mental Health Providers article 

What Does The Future Hold For Digital Health And Care? Eight Key Technologies Explained

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen many health and care services turn to digital technology to continue meeting patients’ needs. But beyond remote consultations, what are the key technologies to look out for in the future? We explain eight key innovations and their potential to transform health and care delivery.

Read king's Fund blog explainer here

Evaluating digital health products

 Resources to help anyone developing or running a digital health product to conduct an evaluation.

Click here for government collection

Practitioners who support young adults needed to take part in digital technology study

Digital technology can present both opportunities and harms to young people and their mental health. A new research project is asking for practitioners who support young adults with their mental health to take part in a UK-wide online survey to identify the importance of adolescents' digital technology use to consultations about mental health.
Click here to read more

Text messaging: The next gen of therapy in mental health A psychotherapy tool in real-time that enhances care

In the US, approximately 19% of all adults have a diagnosable mental illness. Clinic-based services may fall short of meeting patient needs. In the first randomized controlled trial of its kind, a team investigated the impact of a texting intervention as an add-on to a mental health treatment program versus one without it. A new study finds that a text-messaging-based intervention can be a safe, clinically promising and feasible tool to augment care for people with serious mental illness
Click here to read ScienceDaily article

Evaluating digital health products

Resources to help anyone developing or running a digital health product to conduct an evaluation.
Read Government resources here

Virtual Workshop: Transforming the Practice of Mental Health Care

On April 2, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will host a virtual workshop on Transforming the Practice of Mental Health Care. Click here for details on how to join

'You might feel nobody cares, but I do'

Link to BBC video here

Choose evaluation methods: evaluating digital health products

Compare different evaluation approaches and choose an appropriate method. Click here for government guidance

How Does Cyberbullying Impact Young Psychiatric Inpatients?

Cyberbullying can magnify symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young inpatients at an adolescent psychiatric hospital, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Harnessing the Power of Technology for Mental Health

In this Director’s Message, Dr. Gordon discusses the potential that technology holds for expanding the reach of mental health care. Read NIMH blog here

Smartphone Games Used to Detect Cognitive Decline

A new study from the UK finds that popular cellphones games could provide a new tool to help doctors spot early signs of cognitive decline. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Can Artificial Intelligence Help Prevent Mental Illness?

Technology entrepreneur David Plans knows first hand the risks of ignoring mental health. While going through security at Brussels Airport in 2003, he suddenly passed out, was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and flatlined in transit. Read Forbes article here

Online Self-Management Helpful for Anxiety, Depression and Pain

Emerging research suggests that for some individuals, online symptom self-management plus clinician telecare is the best strategy for treating anxiety, depression and pain.  Click here to read further.

Smartphone Games May Ease Work Stress Better Than Mindfulness Apps

A new U.K. study finds that digital games, typical of those used on smartphones, may outperform mindfulness apps when it comes to relieving work-related stress. Read PsychCentral news article here

In a new survey of 3,425 university students, one in five respondents said they engaged in problematic smartphone use which in turn was tied to lower grades, mental health problems and a higher number of sexual partners.  Click here to read further.

Simply the Bestie - mental health app scoops top award for health trust

A GROUND-breaking new app to transform mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people in Worcestershire has been awarded the MidTECH Award for Best NHS-Developed Innovation. Read newspaper article here

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES: USING DATA-DRIVEN TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSFORM MENTAL HEALTHCARE

This report examines the current landscape of data-driven technologies and their applications in mental healthcare, highlighting areas where these tools offer the most potential for the NHS and its patients. Read reform report here

NHS hospitals and GP practices to get fibre optic internet

All NHS organisations will get the fastest broadband available, which will improve the range and quality of digital healthcare services offered to patients. Read Department of Health news here

NICE launches online resource to help development and adoption of new health technologies

HealthTech Connect, a new online resource provided by NICE to help identify and support new health technologies as they move from inception to adoption in the UK health and care system was formally launched today (29 April). read NICE news here