Society for Digital Mental Health
Empowering individuals and communities through accessible, innovative, and evidence-based digital mental health technologies.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to transforming mental health care by improving access to safe, evidence-based, and equitable digital mental health within care delivery systems. We do this by:
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- Bridging the gap between research and practice to create impactful digital mental health treatment.
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- Convening leaders together from across disciplines to share expertise and to explore new collaborations that can drive responsible use of digital treatments in mental health care.
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- Fostering dialogue to advance research, implement solutions, and promote accessible, evidence-based tools.
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- Connecting clinicians, policymakers, researchers, technologists, companies, healthcare systems, and people with lived experience.
Our Vision:
SDMH envisions a future where safe, effective and responsible digital mental health treatment can be accessed by those in need.
History
The Society for Digital Mental Health was founded in 2021 to promote the advancement of digital mental health research, policy, and practice. Its origins go back to the Banbury Forum, a 2019 meeting which gathered together a broad range of representatives, including representatives from healthcare, payers, research, policy, investment, and patient advocacy, to examine the research-to-practice gap in digital mental health in the United States…
Strategic Goals
The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for advancements in digital mental health care and support. Since the Banbury Forum, the healthcare, legislative, regulatory, and research landscapes have undergone significant transformation, driven in part by the rising prevalence of mental health challenges and substance use nationwide. Our strategic goals continue to adapt to address these pressing issues within an ever-evolving environment.
1. Advance Policy and Effective Regulation
Advocate for clear reimbursement pathways and regulatory frameworks to ensure that digital mental health treatments are recognized and funded within healthcare systems.
2. Foster Implementation and Adoption
Support the implementation and adoption of evidence-based digital mental health treatments in healthcare and community settings by addressing key challenges and developing best practices.
3. Champion Patient-Centered Approaches
Advocate to make sure that patient needs are at the center of all digital mental health treatments, with a focus on accessibility, equity, and effectiveness.
4. Promote Mental Health Equity
Promote inclusive design and equitable implementation so digital mental health treatments reduce disparities in access to mental health services.
5. Advance Education
Promote intellectual engagement, knowledge sharing and education across all our diverse stakeholder groups.