Digital technologies offer transformative potential to improve mental health outcomes by extending access, expanding choice, and increasing system efficiency. To support the further development of digital mental health in Ireland, the HSE has worked with partners and stakeholders to produce this Strategy. It provides a structure and framework within which we can consolidate, expand and develop digital mental health into the future.

What is digital mental health?
Definitions for digital mental health vary and reflect the wide range of current and potential applications of digital technology in mental health. However, all encompass the following two categories:
1. Applications of digital technology in mental health that the public and service users directly interact with, i.e. digital supports and services, and
2. Uses of technology that are not service‑user or public facing, but which support the delivery of mental health services through enhanced operations and administration, i.e. digital infrastructure.

1. Applications of digital technology in mental health that the public and service users directly interact with includes a diverse range of offerings that can be sub‑ divided as follows:
• Information – information related to mental health, provided or enhanced using digital technology. This information is static and non‑personalised, although it may be targeted at specific user groups. An example is the yourmentalhealth.ie website, which the HSE uses to provide general information to the public on mental health.
• Tools – mental health information and resources, provided or enhanced using digital technology, through the use of tools that are dynamic, interactive and/or personalised to the individual user. An example is My Mental Health Plan, an online resource that provides tailored information, guidance and signposting based on basic information provided by an individual about their mental health.
• Services – mental health services and supports, provided or enhanced using digital technology, where there is direct human interaction involved. This interaction may take place through a variety of mediums, e.g. video and text, and may be synchronous or asynchronous. The person that the service user engages with may be from a variety of backgrounds, e.g. clinician, peer or volunteer. An example is SilverCloud, a suite of online programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapy which involves a service user engaging online with a supporter through asynchronous text.
2. There are a number of potential uses of digital technology that are not service user or public facing, but which support the delivery of quality mental health services. These are usually described as digital infrastructure, and deliver enhancements and efficiencies across operations, administration and data functions. Despite service users and the public not directly interacting with these digital products, they often provide indirect benefits to service users, for example through clinicians having more time for direct work with clients as less time is required for administrative tasks...