Technology and Mental Health and Addictions Policy Review
Shalini Lal
Priority Given to Technology in Government-Based Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) Vision and Strategy Documents: Systematic Policy Review
Project Summary
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. This review also highlights the importance of implementing knowledge translation and collaborative initiatives among policy makers and researchers focussed on the integration of technology in mental health policy and practice.
To read more about the article, click the following link: https://www.jmir.org/2021/5/e25547
Funders
This project is partially supported through operational funds from the Canada Research Chairs Program awarded to Shalini Lal, PhD. There is no specific grant funding for this project. If you would like to further support the advancement of technology, mental health, and addictions policy research, contact us at: ymhtechlab@gmail.com.
Partners and Collaborators
This policy review project was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Carol Adair in the Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Calgary.
Contact person
Shalini Lal, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.O.T. (Reg.QC)
Email: ymhtechlab@gmail.com
Youth Mental Health and Technology Lab
Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM)
Pavillion S 850, Rue St-Denis, Bureau S03.328
Montréal (Québec) H2X 0A9
Email: ymhtechlab@gmail.com