Embracing the digital side of mental health

Abstract

The number of global internet users has now exceeded 5.18 billion people, representing approximately 64% of the current global population. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed growing concern about the impact of increased digital use, especially among adolescents worldwide who are reported to be heavy digital device users. The increasing use of digital devices raises the need for psychologists to identify the potential psychopathological risks of digital usage. However, past research has shown an unclear concept of digital mental health and the association between digital use and mental health. Therefore, this conceptual paper discusses a new concept of digital mental health based on the newly proposed Digital Mental Health Model, which consists of assessment, disorder, and intervention that focuses on the integration of three components starting from assessment to classification of disorders and, finally, intervention. Moreover, we also explored the various risks of digital mental health from the perspectives of assessment, disorder, and intervention. As psychologists increasingly recognize the potential use of digital mental health, this model could guide mental health practitioners to integrate the use of digital mental health tools into their practice and thus improve the diagnosis and intervention process.

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