Just published! “Priority Given to Technology in Canadian Mental Health Policy: Systematic Policy Review”

Check out our recent open-access publication! YMHtech Lab director Dr. Shalini Lal and coauthors Lyna Siafa, Dr. Hajin Lee and Dr. Carol E Adair recently published an article titled “Priority Given to Technology in Government-Based Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) Vision and Strategy Documents: Systematic Policy Review” in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

This policy review paper aims to examine the extent to which technology is addressed in Canadian government-based MHA policy documents prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to establish a baseline for documenting change. We reviewed 22 MHA policy documents, published between 2011 and 2019 by 13 Canadian provinces and territories, and analyzed the extent to which each policy document mentioned the use of technology in relation to the delivery of mental health services.

Despite the fact that technology was addressed in every document, it varied by province/territory. Only a few referred to the use of advanced technologies such as virtual reality and apps, with many primarily mentioning telephone-based interventions. There was inconsistency in the use of technology-related terminology across the documents, including the term e-mental health. There was limited strategic focus and guidance in the policy documents on how to implement technology-enabled services within the public mental health care system.

Overall, it seems that technology has not been given much attention in Canadian mental health policy. This review helps illustrate the priority given to technology in government policy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and creates a baseline for monitoring whether this will change as a result of the pandemic.

To read more about the article, click the following link: https://www.jmir.org/2021/5/e25547