A connected health framework for mental health research

Abstract

Treatment innovation in mental health is a major public-health priority. A specific sub-challenge underlying the development of new treatments is the use of digital technologies to support mental health interventions. In addition to the potential benefits of increased access to care and reduced costs to service providers, the implementation of digital platforms could enhance patient engagement through tailoring of interventions to best suit patients in their own environments and by offering greater flexibility than afforded by routine systems of care. Such technology-enabled care is probably best captured by the term ‘connected health’, reflecting the interdependency between health care providers, patients, and relevant data capture and information exchange in order to achieve optimal health outcomes. This talk will highlight some of the activities of a European Network Cost Action for the Joint Evaluation of Connected Health Technologies (ENJECT) and illustrate how novel digital technologies are being used to translate connected health initiatives into mental health research.