Mobile “mHealth” Interventions in Mental Health Care

Mobile health or “mHealth” interventions using text messaging, apps, and websites have the potential to reduce barriers to mental health care, including difficulties navigating, accessing, and engaging in services. While evidence supports the feasibility and acceptability of these interventions in mental health treatment, continued research is needed to evaluate their efficacy and implementation, both as stand-alone interventions and to augment traditional services. There is a risk that mHealth innovation could inadvertently marginalize vulnerable populations that already face difficulties accessing needed treatment, including people experiencing poverty or lacking digital literacy skills. Codesign of interventions with people with lived experience can help ensure that mHealth interventions meet the needs of the populations they intend to support.

This collection examines innovative mHealth interventions that are changing mental health care. The first section highlights some of the latest mobile apps that have been evaluated in the journal. The next section presents articles that describe challenges that may arise in mHealth intervention implementation. The final section discusses the future of mHealth interventions, their efficacy, and their anticipated role in enhancing accessibility to mental health services.