Unpacking the Stats: Digital Mental Health Interventions
66% of people think digital mental health interventions should be included in traditional healthcare.
In 2023, The Decision Lab conducted a comprehensive survey with over 700 participants. Questions spanned across our focus areas, including emerging technology, mental health, and personal and professional growth. Let's delve into the findings.
After being laid off last year, Michael has been experiencing some mental health difficulties. Anxious about the future, he’s finally worked up the courage to reach out for professional help. Dialling number after number, he sought a therapist through traditional means but was met with year-long waitlists.
Just as his hopes were dwindling, his phone buzzed—a reminder of his upcoming virtual session with a therapist, something he signed up for just a week ago out of sheer desperation. Though it's not how he envisioned his journey to mental wellness, this online alternative represents a light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel.
Behind the Numbers
At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for mental health services reached new heights. But even with lockdowns and isolation in our rearview, demand still exceeds supply, with many psychologists expressing concerns about increasingly lengthy waitlists.1
Digital mental health services have been proposed as a game changer—with studies demonstrating that these e-alternatives can be just as effective as in-person sessions.2,3 Not only that, but virtual care removes accessibility barriers by allowing people in remote locations to access therapy and mental health tools. Oftentimes, these platforms and programs are offered in various languages and are more cost-effective than traditional interventions.4
Worldwide Response
Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) leverage technologies such as websites, mobile apps, video conferencing, and virtual reality to deliver various forms of mental health support. This umbrella term encompasses everything from calling a therapist in real time to AI chatbots.
Governments across the globe have been responding to the call for accessible services by introducing supportive online programs. In Australia, MindSpot—a zero-cost and confidential online and phone therapy service—reached 200 people in their first year (2012) with 70% completing treatment. Now, more than 30,000 Australians register for the various programs each year.5 With all of these pros, why did 34% of respondents disagree? Is there a catch?
References
- Chatterjee, R. (2023, December 6). Psychologists say they can’t meet the growing demand for mental health care. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/12/06/1217487323/psychologists-waitlist-demand-mental-health-care
- Prescott, M. R., Sagui-Henson, S. J., Welcome Chamberlain, C. E., Castro Sweet, C., & Altman, M. (2022). Real World Effectiveness of digital mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLOS ONE, 17(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272162
- Kim, J., Aryee, L. M., Bang, H., Prajogo, S., Choi, Y. K., Hoch, J. S., & Prado, E. L. (2023). Effectiveness of digital mental health tools to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Mental Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.2196/43066
- E-mental health. Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2023, June 21). https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/what-we-do/e-mental-health/#:~:text=e%2DMental%20health%20delivers%20timely,access%20and%20shorter%20wait%20times
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (n.d.). About MindSpot. MindSpot Clinic - Free Online Mental Health Support. https://www.mindspot.org.au/about-mindspot/
- Porcelli, R. (2023, July 30). Mental Health Treatment and Technology: Pros, Cons, and The Need For Innovation. LinkedIn.
- Surani, A., Bawaked, A., Wheeler, M., kelsey, B., Roberts, N., Vincent, D., & Das, S. (2023). Security and privacy of Digital Mental Health: An analysis of web services and mobile apps. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4469981 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mental-health-treatment-technology-pros-cons-need-rich-porcelli-lmhc/
- Lim, C., Fuchs, C., & Torous, J. (2024). Integrated Digital Mental Health Care: A Vision for addressing population mental health needs. International Journal of General Medicine, Volume 17, 359–365. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s449474
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About the Author
Charlotte Sparkes
Charlotte Sparkes is a full-time psychology and behavioural science student at McGill University. Interning at The Decision Lab as a Summer Content Associate, she is passionate about all things cognition. She is especially interested in the explicit and implicit factors required for decision-making. Through her work as a research assistant, Charlotte has gained practical experience in the field of social psychology, specifically testing participants on their empathic accuracy. In addition, she is the current president of the MPSA (McGill Psychology Students’ Association). In this role, she has worked on projects alongside professors to make research opportunities accessible to all students.
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