Harnessing the power of digital transformation for better mental health

30 September 2024,10:00–11:30 (CEST)

Mental health is one of the areas that is increasingly being recognized by Member States in the WHO European Region as key to achieving universal health coverage and other targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities have been a major public health concern in the Region since before the COVID 19 pandemic.

Digital health technologies, such as telepsychiatry (defined as the use of ICT to provide mental health services), mental health mobile applications (mApps) and digital therapeutics, have emerged as powerful tools used in the response to the growing burden of mental health. For example, telepsychiatry was one of the initiatives most frequently implemented during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now established in 35% (17 out of 48) of Member States in the Region. A small number of Member States (12%; five out of 43) have also reported they are evaluating and approving mApps that have helped to support mindfulness and manage mental health conditions.

This session will examine the potential for digital mental health solutions to transform existing mental health care systems, while considering the opportunities and challenges involved.