The Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Mental Health Policy Project has presented recommendations regarding mental healthtech, where the use of digital technology in the areas of prevention and health promotion for mental health is advancing rapidly, in a proposal titled, “Achieving Individual-Centered, Sustainable Mental Healthtech.” The recommendations have been compiled from the four perspectives of “Establishing an environment for the area of mental healthtech,” “Emphasizing evidence and usability,” “Mechanisms for user-driven choice and a universal provision system,” and “Establishing and strengthening links between mental healthtech and psychiatry.” The recommendations also outline issues that HGPI believes must be addressed in the future.

■ Overview of policy recommendations

Perspective 1: Establishing an environment for the area of mental healthtech

• Establish clear guidelines on data security, secondary use, and other aspects of handling private information to cultivate a sense of responsibility among the companies that handle sensitive information related to mental health and to give users peace of mind when providing all types of information and data.
• Users representing civil society must actively participate in opportunities to verify the effects of mental healthtech and provide feedback to spur development in this area.
• Multi-stakeholders must cooperate to obtain an accurate grasp of society’s needs at suitable times to foster the creation of a high-quality, evidence-based industry.
• Improve understanding and awareness toward mental health throughout society

Perspective 2: Emphasizing evidence and usability

• Hold discussions on the ideal structure of the evidence required of mental healthtech and develop guidelines with a view to improving quality in this field.
• Emphasize usability with a basis on user needs to enable continuous use.

Perspective 3: Mechanisms for user-driven choice and a universal provision system

• A neutral, third-party platform that allows users to compare and review mental healthtech and obtain the latest information will be necessary.
• Consider the pros and cons of mechanisms for evaluating and certifying tools that meet specific standards.
• Build a system for the universal provision of services that are in line with the life course and establish cost-sharing mechanisms for its creation.

Perspective 4: Establishing and strengthening links between mental healthtech and psychiatry

• Create mechanisms within mental healthtech services that notify users when they must transition to psychiatric care and that support them in doing so.
• Improve understanding of mental healthtech within psychiatry.
• Form policy links that connect mental healthtech and psychiatry.