JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) have been widely promoted to improve access to mental health care within the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2015, 48 technologies were reportedly used in NHS services in England but over the past decade, substantial changes to regulatory requirements, evidence standards, and procurement processes have reshaped the digital mental health landscape. There is limited clarity regarding which DMHIs are currently being formally procured and funded by NHS mental health services across the UK.

Objective:

This study aimed to identify and describe the DMHIs currently procured, contracted, or paid for by NHS mental health providers in England, Scotland, and Wales for adult common mental health problems, and to compare current procurement with findings reported in 2015.

Methods:

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were submitted to all NHS Mental Health Trusts in England and all Health Boards in Scotland and Wales. Responses were collated and screened to provide an updated and extended record of which technologies are reportedly procured or paid for by services.

Results:

A total of 19 different DMHIs were identified as being procured across mental health providers for adult common mental health problems at the time of data collection. This demonstrates a substantial reduction in the number of technologies being adopted into practice compared to the 48 reported in England in 2015. The findings reveal several key insights, including that only two technologies have remained in use for a decade and sheds light on the types of technologies being selected and variations in procurement practices among the three national health services.

Conclusions:

Despite the expansion of the digital mental health marketplace, the number of DMHIs formally procured by NHS mental health services has markedly decreased over the past decade. This consolidation may reflect increased selectivity driven by strengthened regulatory oversight, evidence standards, and national guidance. While these developments may enhance safety and quality assurance, they also raise important questions about innovation, market sustainability, and equitable access to digital mental health care. Ongoing monitoring of procurement practices is needed to inform policy, service design, and future development of DMHIs.