Apolinário-Hagen J, Kemper J, Stürmer C. (2017). Public acceptability of e-mental health treatment services for psychological problems: A scoping Review. JMIR Mental Health. 4(2): e10. doi: 10.2196/mental.6186
This scoping literature review evaluated public perceptions of the helpfulness of digital mental health approaches (e.g. mHealth apps, health websites, web-based therapy) and intentions to use these approaches as indicators of public acceptance of digital mental health approaches. Researchers did a literature search for studies of the general public’s perceptions of the acceptability of digital mental health approaches compared to different modes of treatment. Four studies were included in the review. Results of the review suggested that most people have sought mental health care in-person or through health information websites. Those who prefer to receive in-person therapy tend to be more concerned about the privacy of digital mental health approaches than people who prefer digital mental health approaches. People perceive in-person therapy as being more helpful than digital metal health approaches, though mental health approaches were considered to be easier to access, more anonymous, and more likely to be free than in-person therapy. Results of the review also indicated that people thought they were more likely to use in-person therapy than digital mental health approaches. People considered therapist-guided digital mental health approaches to be more helpful than unguided digital mental health approaches and had greater intentions to use these approaches.