Any mental health practice can use digital health and digital literacy to enhance care for serious mental illness.
Let us show you how. Where do you want to start?
Use this simple tool to identify digital health solutions that can help support recovery goals for people who have serious mental illness (SMI). Get practical solutions that help foster independence, promote self-care, reduce stress, and more.
Have an individual open the Notes app (or other note-taking apps, such as Google Keep) on their Apple or Android device. Talk with them about how to record their thoughts, ideas, and plans using the app. Show them how to use the native sharing functionality to share their notes with others.
Have an individual open the Settings app on their Apple device. Scroll to the Medical Details section and select Medical ID. Show them how to input information on their medications, conditions, allergies, and more. They can also choose to enable sharing of this information on their phone lock screen and during an emergency call.
Have an individual open the Calendar app on their device. Set up daily, recurring reminders for self-care activities like meditation or exercise. You can also place these reminders or Calendar apps as widgets on the device's home screen.
Have an individual open the Calendar app on their device. Set up a daily, recurring reminder for activities related to their household, such as chores, paying bills, grocery shopping, and more. You can also place these reminders or Calendar apps as widgets on the device's home screen. At the end of each activity, they can take a photo of what they completed, such as an area they cleaned. This can be useful as they can look at the photos and reflect back on their progress.
Have an individual open their app store. Help them search for and download an app that tracks their hoursehold chores. This may include a third-party app on any device such as Sweepy, HomeRoutines, BrightNest, Tody, and many more. Show them how to create a profile, enter and organize their chorse, and create reminders to alert them when they need to make time for cleaning. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
Have an individual open the Health app on their Apple device. Select the Sharing tab and follow the prompts to enable data sharing with family members.
Have an individual open the Calendar app on their device. Share the calendar with family members so they can see any events, reminders, and other health-related information.
Have an individual open their app store. Help them search for and download an app that tracks their budget and spending. This may include a third-party app on any device such as Mint, Goodbudget, Empower, YNAB, and many more. Show them how to create a profile, connect their bank account(s), and create reminders to alert them when they need to pay a bill. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
Have an individual open the Calendar app on their device. Set up a recurring reminder that identifies the medication the person should take. Schedule the reminder to repeat on the days and times when they need to take the medication. You can also place this reminder or Calendar app as a widget on the device's home screen.
Have an individual open their banking website. They can also open their app store and you can help them search for and download an app for their bank. Show them how to create a profile, log in to their bank account(s), pay bills, and set up automatic payments for important weekly or monthly bills. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
Have an individual open the Apple Wallet app on their iOS device or Google Wallet on their Android device. Show them how to add, access, and use credit and debit cards, identification, tickets, and more. Explain how this helps ensure that they always have their payment information on hand and accessible.
Have an individual open the Calendar app on their device. Set up daily, recurring reminders for self-care activities like meditation or exercise. You can also place these reminders or Calendar apps as widgets on the device's home screen.
Have an individual open the Clock app on their device. Set up a recurring alarm with a label that identifies the medication the person should take. Schedule the alarm to repeat on the days and times when they need to take the medication.
Have an individual open the Calendar app on their device. Set up a recurring reminder that identifies the medication the person should take. Schedule the reminder to repeat on the days and times when they need to take the medication. You can also place this reminder or Calendar app as a widget on the device's home screen.
Have an individual open the Notes app (or other note-taking apps, such as Google Keep) on their Apple or Android device. Talk with them about how to record and track when they take their medication(s). Show them how to use the native sharing functionality to share their notes with others.
Open a browser on the person's device and show them how and where to search for information on their medication(s). You can start with a Google search and explain how to identify sources that they can trust. Point out where to find any relevant details that may be helpful for them to know about their medication(s).
Helpful sources of information on medications:
National Institute of Mental Health
The Lifeline program provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers. It is available to eligible low-income consumers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and on Tribal lands. The Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). USAC is responsible for data collection and maintenance, support calculation, and disbursement for the low-income program.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a monthly discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Virtually all libraries offer free public Wi-Fi access. This provides a way for individuals to access email, record and share information, and more. You can help them locate the library nearest to where they live and prepare them for what to do there.
Work with the person to edit the home screen on their device to add a photo widget. This widget can display a photo gallery of family members, pets, positive interactions, events, people, or other things that help them feel encouraged and positive.
Have an individual open the Settings app on their Apple device. Scroll to the Wallpaper section and explain how they can choose their own photo to display. It can be a photo gallery of family members, pets, positive interactions, events, people, or other things that help them feel encouraged and positive.
Have the person open the podcast app on their device. Show them how to search for, subscribe to, and listen to podcasts on topics that focus on motivational conent and other positive topics.
Have the person open the music app on their device. This may be the Music app on Apple iOS, the YouTube Music app on Android devices, or a third-party app on any device such as Spotify, Pandora, and many others. Show them how to search for music, listen to songs, and create playlists that may help them feel motivated and positive.
Have an individual open their app store. Help them search for and download an app that tracks their daily moods. This may include a third-party app on any device such as Daylio, Moodfit, MoodTools, eMoods, MoodKit, and many more. Show them how to create a profile, input details on their mood, and create reminders to alert them when they need to track their mood. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
Have an individual open the Reminders app on their Apple device. Set up a location-based reminder that delivers a motivational message if the person goes to specific locations or social settings that usually involve substance use. Schedule the reminder to repeat any time they arrive at the location(s). You can also use this kind of reminder to deliver a positive affirmation when they leave a location after they attend a group meeting, for example.
Have an individual open the Health app on their Apple or Android device. Locate the areas where you can enter and track data on physical activity, nutrition, medications, mindfulness, sleep, and more -- in the Health app in Apple iOS, for example, this is on the Browse tab. You can explain and show them how to enter any relevant details that may be helpful to managing weight gain. You can also show them how to enable sharing so they can send you their data.
You can create an exercise plan with a person that fits their individual goals, treatment plans, and devices. If they have a wearable device like a smart watch, for example, you can easily make sure that their watch syncs data with the Health app on their phone. You can also enable any other sensors or settings to make sure their device captures and shares any relevant data.
How to manage data and sharing in the Health app on Apple iOS
Any time a person has a meal, have them take a picture of their food and send it to you via email or text. You can show them how to create an album in the Photos app on their device. You can also show them how to use native sharing functionality to send phoos via text or email.
Have an individual open their app store. Help them search for and download an app that tracks daily water consumption. This may include a third-party app on any device such as My Water, WaterMinder, Aqualert, Hydro Coach, and many more. Show them how to create a profile, input their water consumption, and create reminders to alert them when they need to drink water. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
Have an individual open the Settings app on their Apple device. Scroll to the Medical Details section and select Medical ID. Show them how to input information in this section for emergency contacts. If they ever have a physcial or mental health crisis and call 911 or 988, the Health app will automatically send their current location to these emergency contacts.
My Mental Health Crisis plan is a free app from SMI Adviser. It provides an easy step-by-step process for individuals to create and share a crisis plan. It also walks through the steps a person has to take to turn their crisis plan into a a psychiatric advance directive (PAD). A PAD is a legal document that includes a list of instructions and preferences that a person wishes to be followed in case of a mental health crisis. My Mental Health Crisis Plan allows anyone to easily share their crisis plans or PADs via QR codes and native sharing functionality.
Have an individual open the Settings app on their Apple device. Scroll to the Medical Details section and select Medical ID. Show them how to input information on their medications, conditions, allergies, and more. They can also choose to enable sharing of this information on their phone lock screen and during an emergency call.
Have the person open their apps for phone calls, video calls, and texts. Explain what each app does and show them how to use the features in each app to contact other people.
Have an individual open the Calendar app on their device. Set up recurring reminders for social events that the person should attend to connect with other people. You can also place these reminders or Calendar app as a widget on the device's home screen.
Work with the person to edit the home screen on their device to add a photo widget. This widget can display a photo gallery of family photos, positive interactions, or other events and people that help them feel connected.
Work with family members to record and save positive audio messages on the individual's device. On Apple iOS, for example, this can be done using the Voice Memo app. Simply open the app and hit the Record button. These audio messages are available for playback at any time.
Work with family members to record and save positive video messages on the individual's device. Simply open the Camera app and hit the Record button. These video messages are available for playback at any time.
Have the person open their app for texts. Show them how to add multiple people to a text message and start a group conversation.
Have the person download and open the Facebook app on their Apple or Android device. Show them how to search for and find Facebook Groups that have people with similar interests, conditions, recovery goals, and more. Explain how they can use these groups to comment, post, and interact with people.
Have the person open the podcast app on their device. Show them how to search for, subscribe to, and listen to podcasts on topics that focus on motivational content and other positive topics.
Have the person open the music app on their device. This may be the Music app on Apple iOS, the YouTube Music app on Android devices, or a third-party app on any device such as Spotify, Pandora, and many others. Show them how to search for music, listen to songs, and create playlists that may help them feel motivated and positive.
Have an individual open their app store. Help them search for and download a meditation app that fits their needs. This may include a third-party app on any device such as Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, Breathwrk, Smiling Mind, and many more. Show them how to find and complete guided meditation exercises that may help them reduce stress. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
You can use the voice memo app to record and save a guided meditation on the individual's device. On Apple iOS, for example, this can be done using the Voice Memo app. Simply open the app and hit the Record button. These audio messages are available for playback at any time.
Have the person use the voice memo app to record and save an audio reminder about calming techniques that are effective for them. On Apple iOS, for example, this can be done using the Voice Memo app. Simply open the app and hit the Record button. These audio messages are available for playback at any time during moments of anxiety.
Have the person open their settings. Show them how to use the Do Not Disturb setting to silence calls, alerts, and notifications. This can be helpful to ensure that individuals take a break from screen time.
Have an individual open their app store. Help them search for and download a meditation app that fits their needs. This may include a third-party app on any device such as Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, Breathwrk, Smiling Mind, and many more. Show them how to find and complete guided meditation exercises that may help them get better and higher-quality sleep. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
Have the person open their settings. Show them how to use the Sleep Focus setting to reduce distractions before and during bedtime.
Have the person open their settings. Show them how to use the Night Shift setting to make viewing the screen easier on their eyes at night.
Have an individual open their app store. Help them search for and download a white noise app that fits their needs. This may include a third-party app on any device such as Sleep Sounds, White Noise Lite, BetterSleep, and many more. Show them how to find and select from the sound options, as many people find that listening to these sounds helps them relax and lessens the disruption from unexpected noises. Note: many of these apps are not free and may have subscription pricing.
It is a person's ability to find, evaluate, navigate, understand, and use technology.
Because there are digital ways to directly connect with and support the mental health of every person.
of U.S. adults own
a mobile phone
of Americans have used digital devices or the internet to communicate with a doctor or doctor's office
*In the last 12 months
Here are a few examples of digital literacy at work in mental health settings. Can an individual who receives care:
of Americans agree that it look a lot of effort to get what they needed from their most recent search for information about health or medical topics
of Americans would be willing to share health data from wearables devices with their health care providers
Digital literacy skills can help address health disparities. When people who have SMI have better digital skills, you can use more digital health solutions to support their care and recovery.
Think about telehealth, for example. Mental health clinicians can use telehealth to deliver care and help individuals overcome barriers such as...
Hearing, Physical, and Visual Impairments
Isolation
Stigma
Geographic Distance
Employment Status
of people who have SMI live in rural areas
43% of people who have SMI are unemployed or out of the workforce
It's simple. If someone has better digital literacy skills, you can use digital health tools to engage them in their own care.
Here are a few examples on how digital literacy skills lead to better engagement.
People can access online resources, self-care apps, digital communities, and more
Individuals use medication reminders, virtual appointments, and other technology that supports their care plan
People know how to keep their personal information safe
of those people say they used a health app in the last year
of Americans say they have a mobile health app on their device
Busting some myths about digital health.
People who have SMI do not have devices to access digital health solutions
86% of people who have SMI use a mobile phone
People who receive care via telehealth think that it is not effective or prefer in-person care
Individuals often report comparable satisfaction between telehealth and in-person care
People who have SMI are not interested and do not benefit from inclusion in digital communities
Virtual communities can have a positive impact on emotions and recovery for individuals who have SMI
People who have SMI do not benefit from digital literacy training
Digital literacy training can improve functional digital skills for people who have SMI
Digital literacy skills are important for clinicians, practice support staff, and individuals who receive care. This helps align digital tools, data, processes, and systems to optimize care and support. So who can teach all those groups all the skills they need?
A team member who is able to facilitate and implement technology into care.
There is published evidence on how Digital Health Navigators can help promote clinical care and integrate technology into practice.
Read more about the DHN Role
There is an easy-to-use online curriculum from SMI Adviser that teaches all the basic tools and skills needed in the Digital Health Navigator role.
Learn About the Digital Health Navigator TrainingThis training helps your practice embrace technology as a tool to support mental health recovery. Anyone can complete the online training whenever their schedule allows.
Self-paced
Easy to use
Six modules
Skills quizzes
