Qualitative, accessible and affordable mental health care is the ideal image that we strive for. Not only for the Dutch population but for mental healthcare professionals and clients worldwide. To achieve this, it is important that the healthcare landscape is designed for the future. However, the question is how we can solve the current problems our mental healthcare is facing while preparing ourselves for the future at the same time. Technology and digitization play a prominent role in this but have been underused. 

Technology is not yet the focus

Due to digitization in mental health care, the client plays a more important role and therapists’ working methods will be supported and updated with technology. Several studies show that this significantly improves healthcare treatments and trajectories. Moreover, new digital techniques lead to an increase in happiness at work among mental health employees. But, unfortunately, there is no integral digital mindset in the Netherlands and developments in the health sector are moving much too slowly. This is mainly because digital solutions are being insufficiently implemented and embraced.

This is no surprise, by the way; There are sounds from various angles that mental health care is a tricky sector to innovate, especially in the digital field. If changes are implemented, they very often don’t run smoothly. This is due to limitations like funding and a shortage of capacity in the mental health care sector. However, in order to keep the mental health care system afloat and continue to provide the necessary mental help, now is the time to change.

Technology improves mental health care and makes it more durable

According to the IZA (Integral Zorgakkoord), technology plays a crucial role in future-proof mental health care. There are already numerous technological tools and digital services to support and improve regular mental health care. These are able to, for example, shorten the waiting lists for clients or give them control over their own recovery during treatment. For therapists, these services reduce administrative work and give more control over the treatment. 

Digital care goes beyond video calling

When people think of digitization or digital mental health care, they often think of video calling or electronic patient files. But digitization and digital care not only refer to one big development or one big IT system, but rather to multiple applications that can improve or (partly) automate care processes. All these applications together can lead to major progress in healthcare and mental health care in particular.

An example of a comprehensive and disruptive digital healthcare concept is NiceDay. The NiceDay treatment platform consists of an app for clients and a web portal for therapists, that allows them to easily (video) call with their clients, have insight into registered data by the client and have contact in between sessions via e.g. chat. It helps therapists to work more effectively, spend less time on administration and more time with the client. At the same time, it offers the client low-threshold care and a choice of different therapists and treatments. 

Investing in technology, adoption and knowledge

In order for technology to help make mental healthcare in the Netherlands more affordable and accessible, we have to invest in its development, adoption and, above all, application. The government, health insurers and mental health care institutions should cooperate in a targeted manner to ensure that the relevance and added value of digital care are recognised throughout the entire chain. This can be done, for example, by granting subsidies and reimbursement for developing and implementing digital healthcare initiatives.

At the same time, it remains important that, in all forms of digital care, we remain critical toward the added value to the users. Investments must also be made in the digital competencies of healthcare professionals, to make sure they have the right skills to use these new technologies. In short, a culture change must take place: digitization must become the starting point in mental health care.