A new report urges the government to invest in the digitization of mental health services across England for the benefit of citizens and the health and care workforce to help the recovery of COVID-19.
The Mental Health Tech Landscape Review, published today by Future Care Capital (FCC), not only recommends a number of measures to enable higher quality care through the use of technology, but also shows that there is potential for development of a wider range. of different types of technological solutions. This is demonstrated by the relatively small sectoral niche of companies that develop technological solutions for mental health care, compared to other areas of health or other sectors.
An estimated 1.6 million people are in contact with mental health services, but estimating the size of the mental health market is a challenge. However, there is a danger that mental health will “fall through the gaps.”
The research identified a relatively small population of companies developing mental health technology. Of the developers discovered, the main technologies that were developed were applications, platforms and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and gamification approaches were also highlighted in the show.
Professor Sir Simon Wessely said: “This report confirms what so many of us have witnessed to ourselves: that digital forms of providing mental health care are beneficial. They are here to stay and, in fact, s There is an opportunity for technologies to provide radically different types of care, rather than simply scaling current approaches online. However, no further research on efficacy, safety, and safety can be overlooked. the profitability of mental health technologies “.
Dr Peter Bloomfield, Head of Policy and Research at the FCC, added: “Mental health support has needed improvement for many years in the UK. Access routes to services are complicated, waiting lists are extensive, and results are poor in the long run.
“The pandemic has aggravated an already difficult clinical and healthcare context. It is unclear how the government’s mental health recovery plan will be implemented for citizens alongside health and care workers. A complementary approach that includes face-to-face care and digital support tools will be useful.
“Reading new ways to maintain good mental health, preventively, will be as essential as providing tools for acute care and we believe technology has an important role to play.”
This post is available for download at futurecarecapital.org.uk and will be discussed in more detail at the upcoming Social Care: Technology and Transformation webinar.