‘Poly-digital,’ concept involves the use of multiple digital interventions or apps to address different aspects of mental well-being

The digital tools can be leveraged to complement existing services and create a more holistic and personalized support system for individuals struggling with mental health issues, says a study published in the journal Nature.

Researchers make a compelling case for the integration of digital technologies in mental health services, highlighting the potential benefits they offer without seeking to replace traditional approaches.

The paper defines digital mental health as the application of digital technologies in mental healthcare, catering to various aspects such as mental health promotion, prevention, self-care, early intervention, and treatment. The authors stress the need for a collaborative design process that incorporates the perspectives and requirements of both stakeholders and end-users, as opposed to a purely technology-driven approach.

Table of Contents

Poly-Digital: A Novel Concept

A key concept introduced in the paper is ‘poly-digital,’ which involves the use of multiple digital interventions or apps to address different aspects of mental well-being. Similar to the idea of ‘marginal gains,’ where small improvements add up to significant progress, the authors suggest that combining various digital tools (e.g., sleep apps, mood logging apps, mindfulness apps) can lead to a cumulative positive impact on mental well-being. This approach recognizes that mental health challenges are multifaceted and can benefit from a tailored collection of interventions.

“Whilst each app might only have a marginal effect on a person’s mental wellbeing, the aggregation of marginal gains could perhaps compound to a large effect on one’s overall wellbeing,” the study points out. “Given the global scope of mental health challenges, even a 1% improvement in say depression symptoms would have a profound impact.”

List of recommendations and closing statements

Digital technologies can be used to augment existing mental health services without replacing them, and act as a kind of ‘digital glue’ to improve the user experience and future proof services for future generations.
Digital technologies can be used to facilitate the collection of high quality data and repeated measures (both digital phenotyping and EMA) from clients outside of therapy in order to better inform the service provider and to improve the quality of the time spent with the client face to face.
Digital mental health interventions can increase the accessibility of support (24/7) and can also be used as a ‘non-stigmatising’ and ‘anonymous’ stepping stone to receiving support.
A digital mental health platform could provide a personalised set of apps or features (creating a tailored poly-digital ecosystem) to an individual which could collectively result in an aggregation of marginal gains.
Be sure to consult all stakeholders in the design of digital mental health technologies, for example, we should consider the client needs, the reliability of the technology and the endorsements of the healthcare professionals.
Be sure to consider all ethical aspects of deploying different kinds of digital technologies in mental health.

Benefits of Digital Interventions

The paper discusses various advantages of incorporating digital interventions into mental health services. One significant benefit is accessibility, as digital tools are available 24/7, providing users with support beyond traditional therapy sessions. Importantly, the authors highlight that some individuals may initially prefer digital support due to the anonymity it offers, which can help them build confidence before seeking in-person services. This can be particularly helpful in reducing stigma and judgment associated with seeking help for mental health issues.

“A clear benefit of digital interventions (e.g. apps and chatbots) is that they can have an adjunctive use in therapy provision, and are available 24/7 allowing clients to access support in-between face-to-face therapy sessions and seek support in less sociable hours,” the research says. “This preference could be due to the level of anonymity that digital support provides allowing the client to avoid any stigma whilst mitigating the risk of feeling judged in a human facing service17, as well as the agency to the individual offered by self-managed care.”

Digital Integration: Enriching Face-to-Face Sessions

Another key benefit highlighted is the ability of digital mental health tools to collect high-resolution real-world client data. Through techniques like digital phenotyping and ecological momentary assessment, individuals can track their mood and well-being in real-time using apps. This data can then be used to enrich face-to-face therapy sessions, providing therapists with valuable insights into clients’ experiences outside of the clinical setting.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While the paper underlines the potential of digital mental health, it also acknowledges challenges. These include concerns about the quality of mental health apps, user retention, and ethical issues related to over-promotion of screen time, perceived reduction in human care, and the misconception that technology can solve all mental health problems. The authors stress the importance of evidence-based, stakeholder-centered design to address these challenges and develop responsible and effective digital mental health services.

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