We have all heard that technology can revolutionize mental health care. But if it was that easy, where has the revolution been for the last decade? Finally, we are realizing the first step is for technology to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in mental health care. Toward making progress and determining exactly how this can happen, Dr. Olu Ajilore of the University of Illinois Chicago organized a panel on empowering mental health through inclusive technology at the Society of Biological Psychiatry annual meeting held in San Diego. Co-chaired by Dr. Katherine Aitchison of the University of Alberta, the session sought to explore solutions from community, global, and academic perspectives.
Christopher LeMark, the Founder of Coffee, Hip Hop & Mental Health, presented and shared how social media and real-time connections can help. He explained how using social media to share his story has “given people permission to tell their stories.” He shared how the people that he and his organization serve are looking for help “now” and in “real-time” and suggested the role of direct messaging and rapid communication to reach people in their moment of need. Still, LeMark noted that technology should not replace face-to-face and community interactions, citing the need for genuine connections to underpin successful technology-focused mental health approaches.
Dr. Andy Greenshaw of the University of Alberta and the Scientific Director APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health, discussed how COVID has accelerated the use of digital platforms for mental health. “Globally there are the same problems and we all want access to mental health care,” he noted in light of his work and partnership with teams in the Philippines. But like LeMark, he also noted the need for ensuring that the voice of people with lived experience shines through and cited co-creation and data-sharing as key means to drive the adoption of digital mental health tools. Greenshaw discussed how new artificial intelligence programs may soon help sort through so much data and gain personal insights customized to each person.
Dr. John Torous, the author of this post and director of digital psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, discussed digital literacy and the path for the clinical integration of these tools. Torous outlined ongoing efforts and suggestions including:
- Use apps and technology that fit the needs of each person, with mindapps.org offering one example of how to find an app match.
- Consider training digital navigators to serve as tech support, coaches, and guides able to support both patients and clinicians around digital technology use. Smiadviser.org/dhn offers one example of such training.
- Visualize and share back the digital data collected from people and make it part of the treatment plan.
Aitchison and Greenshaw then raised the issue of how to use technology to support people when there are no others nearby to offer direct human support. Citing challenges in rural parts of Canada, and many other parts of the world, they reflected on the need for new solutions and means to evaluate digital tools for use in these communities. Ajilore concluded the session by reflecting on common themes with practical steps including early engagement with communities before the creation of any technology, the use of digital tools in a manner that supports human connection (vs. replacing it), and continual evaluation and improvement.
