Integrated Digital Mental Health Care: A Vision for Addressing Population Mental Health Needs

Abstract

The unmet need for mental health care continues to rise across the world. This article synthesizes the evidence supporting the components of a hypothetical model of integrated digital mental health care to meet population-wide mental health needs. This proposed model integrates two approaches to broadening timely access to effective care: integrated, primary care-based mental health services and digital mental health tools. The model solves for several of the key challenges historically faced by digital health, through promoting digital literacy and access, the curation of evidence-based digital tools, integration into clinical practice, and electronic medical record integration. This model builds upon momentum toward the integration of mental health services within primary care and aligns with the principles of the Collaborative Care Model. Finally, the authors present the major next steps toward implementation of integrated digital mental health care at scale.

Non-communicable diseases and the prospects of integrated behavioral health in India: current status and future directions

“…In addition, a review identifies the innovative mental health practices and their benefits to strengthen the primary health care system, including improvement of mental health programs, non-specialist and community-based programs, mobile technology, and tele-mental health programs (Pandya et al ., 2020). With improved technology and increased users, one of the significant ways for integrated care has been through digital mental health tools, which facilitate digital literacy, evidence-based digital tools in clinical practices, and electronic medical record integration (Lim et al ., 2024). In addition, integrating machine learning/artificial intelligence in health care facilitates virtual consultations, remote monitoring and digital therapeutics (Shah et al ., 2022).…”