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Digital technologies will underpin a shift to open access mental health support in Wales

Leaders across digital and mental health disciplines have met as part of a collective commitment to digital transformation of mental health services in Wales. The Roundtable on Digital Mental Health explored the potential of digital technologies in improving experience and outcomes for both service users and staff.

Digital technologies have extensive potential in addressing challenges around access to mental health support, workforce and use of data. The event, organised by the NHS Wales Executive, Digital Health and Care Wales and eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC), brought together stakeholders representing lived experience, health and social care, digital, Welsh Government, industry and the Third Sector to explore national and international opportunities for collaboration. The event explored the role of artificial intelligence (AI), collective commitment to digital, best practice and potential opportunities around technology.

Left to right; Professor Anil Thapliyal (eMHIC), Ciara Rogers (NHS Wales Executive), Alex Slade (Welsh Government), Andrew Greenshaw (University of Alberta)

The new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-35 highlights a clear commitment to seamless mental health services – where they are person-centred, needs led and guide people to the right support first time, without delay. Digital capability will be fundamental to delivery of this vision.

Ciara Rogers, National Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity, at the NHS Wales Executive, said: “The new policy direction for mental health in Wales gives us a platform to really be ambitious. Our digital offer will be a huge enabler in how we provide rapid access to early mental health care for everyone. When implemented right, digital tools can significantly improve patient experience and outcomes, in addition to easing the administrative pressures placed on staff, freeing up more time to care for people. By working in partnership with a diverse group of stakeholders, we have the chance to bring together knowledge and experience to get digital mental health transformation right by design. The Roundtable on Digital Mental Health has challenged all of us to think even more broadly about the role of digital.”

Ciara Rogers speaking at the Roundtable on Digital Mental Health

Attendees at the roundtable heard from a range of presenters sharing insights and evidence informed practice. Reflecting on his experience of digital transformation in mental health from around the world, Professor Anil Thapliyal, Executive Director of eMHIC, opened the roundtable highlighting the value technology can have for both service users and healthcare professionals. Professor Thapliyal discussed how digital is an intrinsic part of our mental offering, often the solution that is available twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. He also advocated for the voice of service users, stating that if digital solution do not work for the user, then they do not work at all. Digital solutions need to be developed in partnership, learning from lived-experience, professional experience and the latest digital industry advances.

Some of the other topics discussed by colleagues at the Roundtable on Digital Mental Health included:

  • The need to continue to develop a digitally minded workforce that recognises where emerging technologies can support them in their roles and help extend their reach.
  • Many young people prefer accessing information and support via digital methods, this gives us real opportunities around open-access mental health support.
  • Future generations are becoming increasingly digitally competent, this will continue to filter through into our older population.
  • There will always be a need for face-to-face services and care, but digital can help people with mild-moderate symptoms and improve access support.
  • The significant potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) when used in a safe and informed way.
  • Digital solutions need to be designed with service users and staff at the core of their development.
  • Continued investment in technology infrastructure is needed to underpin digital transformation.
  • Existing resource means we are unable to continue to do everything, we need to prioritise areas where we can make the biggest impact, using research and evidence bases to inform decision-making.
  • The digital landscape continues to evolve at pace and partnership working, including with industry and international partners, is essential to ensure we are at the forefront of digital mental health innovations and do not fall behind.
  • More collaborative working across mental health/ digital in Wales will avoid duplication and allow us to capitalise on the rich expertise and experience available to us.
  • Improvements in how we capture data and information will allow us to use it better as a valuable and dynamic indicator to inform improvements.
  • The value of strong leadership, effective change management, use of implementation science and clear communication cannot be underestimated as enabling factors.

Sam Hall, Director of Primary, Community and Mental Health Digital Services at Digital Health and Care Wales, said: “The Roundtable on Digital Mental Health was a truly inspirational event and Digital Health and Care Wales were pleased to co-host with the NHS Wales Executive. The bringing together of service providers, service users, clinicians and digital professionals meant that we were able to look at mental health services from all sides. There are huge opportunities for now, and the future - this event has given us some new ideas and challenged our thinking. The next steps will be to ensure that digital can support the vision for mental health access across Wales, and provide equitable, life changing services.”

Supported by Digital Health and Care Wales, Welsh Government will be co-producing a mental health data and digital delivery plan which will be aligned to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Digital and Data Strategy for Health and Social Care in Wales.

The NHS Wales Executive will continue work to support colleagues and senior leaders to think differently about large scale change and is in the process of finalising an Open Access Acceleration Plan for mental health support in Wales, which will be informed by the insights showcased at the Roundtable on Digital Mental Health.