Technology Matters: The human touch in a digital age - a blended approach in mental healthcare delivery with children and young people

Abstract

Online psychological interventions have the potential to address many current issues facing service provision in child and adolescent mental health, not least improving access to evidence-based therapies and providing greater patient choice. Recognising this, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) now recommend digitally delivered therapy in the treatment of depression in children and young people (CYP). However, despite the virtual ubiquity of technology in young people's lives, and good evidence that online treatments can be effective, there remain barriers to real-world implementation. We argue that remote therapist support and blended approaches to therapy will be important models in harnessing the potential of digital technology in CYP mental health.

Keywords: Mental health; child and adolescent; cognitive behavioural therapy; digital CBT; digital health.