Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. People with mental health problems are more likely to be digitally excluded.

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• Other needs, including lack of access to digital, can exacerbate mental health needs
• Barriers to learning can be compounded by anxiety and other mental health conditions
• In general learners’ issues are the same as for anyone
• Anxiety of mental illness impacts on the motivations of learners for instance online shopping might be a priority for someone whose health means they do not leave home often
• Where social media and digital communication is used to keep contact with people with mental health issues staff can resist these approaches rather than ‘known’ contact
• Mental health apps may not have been tested?  And so how effective they are may be unknown.
• Access, costs and online safety are all issues for this group of learners.

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Person-centred
– cater for different learning needs
– cater for people at different levels with flexible, tailored support 
– Communication by text can be easier than talking, or in person, for some people

Integrate digital
– Integrate digital into core service delivery – such as mental health support services
– Look for opportunities to develop digital skills (e.g. benefits/job applications/ CV writing).

Digital for mental health – use digital effectively to support improving health
– mindfulness apps (check recommended)
– using online searches to find support (e.g. a childcare place to support a woman with post-natal depression to have rest/recovery time)
– using live web streams from social/sports settings to allow people to participate in activities remotely
– Befriending services (e.g. Post Crossing) can be accessed digitally

Private social media groups
– Closed groups (e.g. on WhatsApp or Facebook) are online communities that can be supportive and accessible to those who are isolated

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Resources

• Big White Wall – a safe, anonymous online community for mental health support (available in some areas only)
• Woebot – a self-help chatbot for improved mental health and wellbeing
• Brain in hand – on demand support system to reduce anxiety and improve independence, lowering demand on carers and support services
• Post crossing befriending service – A postcard exchange project that invites everyone to send and receive postcards from random places in the world
• Google Street view – can use to show someone places they know if they feel anxious about them
• Various online self-help and mindfulness apps
• Be My Eyes – a free app that connects visually impaired people with sighted volunteers for visual assistance through a live video call
• Digital Unite Technology Guides – hundreds of “how to” guides on various digital topics
• Digital Champions Network – Digital Unite’s unique training and support community for aspiring and experienced Digital Champions
• Learn My Way – free digital courses for learners and tutors
• Reboot UK’s Digital Inclusion cards to help organisations design activities to improve people’s digital skills

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Research, Reports and Publications

• How the Richmond Fellowship in County Durham are embedding Digital Champions to develop digital skills of service users with a variety of mental health conditions
• Working with people with mental health issues by National MIND, Buckinghamshire MIND and Richmond Fellowship – presentation from our event about making digital accessible for everyone
• Charities, young people and digital mental health services – paper by Think NPC reviewing current digital mental health provision for young people
• Research, case studies and blog posts from the Reboot UK digital skills programme which focused especially on people affected by homelessness and mental health problems

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Many thanks to our partners MIND, Buckinghamshire Mind and Richmond Fellowship who contributed to developing the learning on this topic