Understanding the role of support in digital mental health programs with older adults: the users’ perspective (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) have the potential to increase mental health support among isolated older adults. However, the older adult population can experience several barriers to accessing and using digital health resources, and may need extra support to experience its benefits. OBJECTIVE This paper aimed to understand what older adults consider important aspects of support when engaging in a digital mental health program. The program entailed 3 months of staff support to take part in digital literacy training and engage with the online mental health platform myStrength. METHODS Thirty older adults took part in a digital mental health program provided by county mental health services. Participants attended 4 classes of digital literacy training, had access to the online mental health platform myStrength for 2 months with staff support (and 10 months after the program without support), and received support from program staff during the entire 3-month program. RESULTS Participants valued ongoing support in three main areas: technical support to assist them in using technology, guided support to remind them to use myStrength and practice skills they had learned, and social support to enable them to connect with others through the program. Furthermore, participants reported that social connections were the most important aspect of the program, that they were mainly motivated to take part in the program because it was recommended to them by trusted others such as a community partner, and/or because they believed it could potentially help others. CONCLUSIONS Our findings can be used to inform the design of future digital mental health programs for older adults, who may have unique support needs.