prioritizing tech in 2021 will be the path to pandemic recovery for mental health

Throughout this past year, individuals across the United States have faced numerous challenges, including anxieties surrounding potential illness, profound grief from the loss of family and friends, economic hardship, feelings of isolation, and the strain of ongoing uncertainty. Although progress is being made with vaccine distribution and a return to more typical routines appears closer, the effects of COVID-19 are far from over. We are only beginning to understand the pandemic’s lasting consequences, particularly the significant worsening of the mental health crisis in the country, a challenge for which there is no simple medical remedy.

Currently, almost 45 million American adults are living with mental illness, a number that has increased as over two-fifths of people in the U.S. have reported experiencing mental health difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, the World Health Organization noted that nations globally were allocating less than 2% of their national healthcare budgets to mental health, despite struggling to adequately address the needs of their populations. This highlights not only a lack of prioritization for mental healthcare, but also limited access to services.

We have observed a recent increase in the utilization of telemedicine and telehealth services, and these solutions represent the most viable path to meeting the widespread demand for support, provided they are grounded in evidence and proven effective. Simply stated, there is a shortage of qualified clinical professionals available.

During my time practicing psychiatry within the U.K.’s National Health Services (NHS), I observed that patients were often seen too late – sometimes years after initial need – resulting in more complex conditions than if they had received timely, quality care. Even then, it was clear that addressing this gap between available resources and patient needs required large-scale deployment of technology, a realization that has been reinforced by recent events.

Investors have also recognized this need, with numerous mental health startups securing funding. Business leaders are increasingly prioritizing innovation as a means of overcoming the current crisis, with a renewed emphasis on products designed for a changed world. We’ve already seen a substantial rise in the use of digital mental health solutions, with approximately 76% of clinicians now exclusively treating patients through telemedicine. The most effective approach to managing mental health on a large scale will involve digital solutions that are evidence-based, ethically sound, and tailored to the individual.

This expansion will not only benefit those who prefer the convenience of flexible care options, but telehealth also expands access to care for individuals in communities with limited local resources.

Despite their growing popularity, digital mental health solutions face important hurdles. They must establish consumer confidence and demonstrate a commitment to handling personal data ethically and responsibly. Given that 81% of Americans believe the risks of data sharing outweigh the benefits, providers must prioritize the secure protection of users’ sensitive health information and earn their trust.

This commitment must extend beyond simply complying with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR, and necessitate the creation and implementation of a robust ethical framework to guide the development of digital mental health solutions. However, these efforts must be authentic and avoid superficial “ethics washing,” and I recommend that providers subject their ethical frameworks to independent audits and publicly share the results.

Digital solutions must also be capable of addressing the unique needs of each user. Many mental health apps employ a standardized approach and fail to fully leverage technology’s potential to adapt to individual symptoms and preferences. This goes beyond simply offering a variety of interventions; it requires acknowledging that people interact with technology in different ways.

For example, at Koa Health, we understand that some users prefer a structured, step-by-step program, while others benefit more from accessing activities as needed. It is essential that we accommodate both of these approaches equally. One-size-fits-all solutions are unlikely to be effective for everyone.

In addition to responsible data handling and personalization, digital solutions must demonstrate their effectiveness. Recent research indicates that 64% of mental health apps claim to be effective, yet only 14% provide supporting evidence. While the increasing adoption of technology is encouraging, a positive impact will only be achieved through products designed for efficacy – and able to demonstrate it through rigorous, high-quality trials. A stronger evidence base for both effectiveness and cost-effectiveness will increase the likelihood that healthcare providers and insurers will adopt and distribute these solutions.

Although vaccines are becoming available, the mental health consequences of the pandemic may ultimately be more significant than the direct health impacts. While health technology has made considerable progress, it is crucial that digital mental healthcare prioritizes effective, ethical, and personalized care to prevent an even more severe mental health crisis.