Supporting the Individualized Use of Digital Tools in Community Mental Health: The Technology Specialist Pilot Study

Community Ment Health J. 2025 Jan 8. doi: 10.1007/s10597-024-01439-4. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of the technology specialist intervention, which assists clients in achieving mental health recovery and well-being goals via existing digital tools in a real-world community mental health setting. Thirteen adult clients with serious mental illness and their providers completed baseline, 3-, and 6-month assessments, including goal setting, self-efficacy, activation, and acceptability measures, along with weekly ecological momentary assessments. Clients selected goals and corresponding tools, used the tools steadily, and showed improvement in activation and self-efficacy. Most participating clients (82%, n = 9) and providers (80%, n = 8) found the intervention acceptable. These preliminary findings show that the technology specialist intervention is promising and warrants further testing.

Keywords: Community mental health; Digital mental health; Patient-centered intervention; mHealth.