Digital Mental Health and its Challenges: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Mental Health in a Crisis

Abstract

Abstract Background: Mental health studies indicate that digital mental health care can alleviate the symptoms of those struggling with mental disorders. We have seen Extended Reality (XR) systems, mental health apps, and other digital tool applications employed in mental healthcare settings to help service users cope with their emotions. Nonetheless, research has questioned the effectiveness of those findings and non-usage by immigrant groups. The calls to tackle this issue, chiefly the effectiveness of digital tools, prompted us to take an interdisciplinary approach. Methods: In this research, we use the theoretical concept of mental disorders beyond classical and critical approaches as a theoretical conduit to demonstrate how this issue of effectiveness is linked with the concept of mental disorders. Also, we process interviews with digital mental healthcare service users in three European countries, namely, the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland, to gauge the effectiveness of digital tools in mental healthcare to improve the quality of care provided in the sector. Results: Answering this question from the position we put forward leads to an integrative approach where digital mental health care can be applied to reduce the symptoms of mental conditions along with other mental healthcare approaches. Conclusions: Our findings support mental disorders as a multidimensional concept, consistent with non-reductionistic approaches, and provide a foundation for further studies in the emerging field