Given the migration to more technologically driven services and resources in today’s world, as well as the range of digital innovations and research that have taken shape throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to consider the role that such advancements have played in supporting mental health initiatives. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health service providers utilized technology and online environments more than ever before to care for people’s mental health and emotional needs, which has forced us to raise questions like how COVID-19 has impacted mental health support and services and how technology has helped people with their mental health through this ongoing crisis, along with outlooks for the future. Digital Innovations for Mental Health Support explores a range of current developments and topics surrounding the application of technology in mental health services including the need to examine the availability and forms of technologies to support mental health, how technology is received by people and the providers of services utilizing technology, how online platforms are increasingly being used for support and how efficacious these are, as well as how they are monitored and the issues that arise from their use. This publication provides an outlet with chapters focusing on empirical studies across a variety disciplines that utilize technologies and online platforms to support mental health and emotional well-being, including psychology, counseling, medicine, education, and psychiatry. Covering topics such as counseling online and computer games to support mental health, it is ideal for researchers, academics, healthcare professionals, and students.

Digital technologies have rapidly changed how we bank, borrow and lend, commute, or order food. The scale of these changes, and the relatively low barriers for individuals to drive such systemic change, have raised great expectations for digital technologies to also impact health and healthcare globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the need for improved health data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the expectation for digital technologies to provide solutions.

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, and its constitution also asserts that health for all people is “dependent on the fullest co-operation of individuals and States”. The ongoing pandemic has highlighted the power of both healthy and unhealthy information, so while healthcare and public health services have depended upon timely and accurate data and continually updated knowledge, social media has shown how unhealthy misinformation can be spread and amplified, reinforcing existing prejudices, conspiracy theories and political biases. This book presents the proceedings of MedInfo 2021, the 18th World Congress of Medical and Health Informatics, held as a virtual event from 2-4 October 2021, with pre-recorded presentations for all accepted submissions. The theme of the conference was One World, One Health – Global Partnership for Digital Innovation and submissions were requested under 5 themes: information and knowledge management; quality, safety and outcomes; health data science; human, organizational and social aspects; and global health informatics. The Programme Committee received 352 submissions from 41 countries across all IMIA regions, and 147 full papers, 60 student papers and 79 posters were accepted for presentation after review and are included in these proceedings. Providing an overview of current work in the field over a wide range of disciplines, the book will be of interest to all those whose work involves some aspect of medical or health informatics.

Digital transformation and innovation reshape today’s emerging markets, unlocking new opportunities for economic growth and social progress. As these regions embrace technological advancements, industries such as finance, healthcare, and education continue to improve. Mobile connectivity and internet access have increased the presence of digital entrepreneurs, fostering innovation to address local challenges and enhance quality of life. Governments and organizations are leveraging data-driven strategies to improve services and infrastructure, driving inclusivity and sustainability. Harnessing the power of digital tools may allow emerging markets to adapt to global trends while paving the way for an interconnected and prosperous future. Digital Transformation and Innovation in Emerging Markets explores the impact of digital technology on various new industries and markets. It offers useful solutions to address the challenges of technological transformation in healthcare, education, and marketing. This book covers topics such as cyber security, digital technology, and telemedicine, and is a useful resource for computer engineers, business owners, educators, managers, scientists, academicians, and researchers.

Digital Innovation for Healthcare in COVID-19 Pandemic: Strategies and Solutions provides comprehensive knowledge and insights on the application of information technologies in the healthcare sector, sharing experiences from leading researchers and academics from around the world. The book presents innovative ideas, solutions and examples to deal with one of the major challenges of the world, a global problem with health, economic and political dimensions. Advanced information technologies can play a key role in solving problems generated by the COVID-19 outbreak. The book addresses how science, technology and innovation can provide advances and solutions to new global health challenges. This is a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, healthcare workers, policymakers and members of the biomedical field who are interested in learning how digital technologies can help us avoid and solve global disease dissemination. - Presents real-world cases with experiences of applications of healthcare solutions during the pandemic of COVID-19 - Discusses new approaches, theories and tools developed during an unprecedented health situation and how they can be used afterwards - Encompasses information on preparedness for future outbreaks to make less costly and more effective healthcare responses to crises

Emerging Technologies for Health Literacy and Medical Practice unveils a transformative revolution brought about by emerging technologies, setting the stage for a paradigmatic shift from reactive medical interventions to proactive preventive measures. This transition has not only redefined the doctor-patient relationship but has also placed patients at the helm of their health management, actively engaged in informed decision-making. The book, a collective effort by experts across diverse disciplines, stands as an authoritative compendium delving into the profound implications of cutting-edge technologies in healthcare. From the tantalizing realm of artificial intelligence powering diagnostics and treatments to the tangible impact of wearable health devices and telemedicine on accessibility, each chapter delves into the nuanced interplay between technology and medical practice. This book spotlights the capabilities of these technologies, as well as dissecting the ethical, social, and regulatory tapestry they unravel. This book, thoughtfully tailored for a spectrum of stakeholders, epitomizes a synergy between knowledge dissemination and empowerment. From healthcare practitioners seeking to optimize medical practices to policymakers navigating the labyrinth of ethical considerations, from educators enriching health literacy to patients empowered to navigate their health journey, the book unearths its relevance across the healthcare spectrum.

Mental health researchers are increasingly looking towards digital health tools to gather day-to-day lived experiences of people living with mental health conditions, by using apps and wearable devices complementing episodic clinical assessments. One of the key goals of collecting longitudinal real-world multimodal data (RWD) is to help build personalized computational models that may help explain the heterogeneity in clinical outcomes, mechanisms of action, and pathophysiology of mental health disorders across individuals.

Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health and Addiction: The State of the Science and Vision for the Future presents the foundations of digital therapeutics with a broad audience in mind, ranging from bioengineers and computer scientists to those in psychology, psychiatry and social work. Sections cover cutting-edge advancements in the field, offering advice on how to successfully implement digital therapeutics. Readers will find sections on evidence for direct-to-consumer standalone digital therapeutics, the efficacy of integrating digital treatments within traditional healthcare settings, and recent innovations currently transforming the field of digital therapeutics towards experiences which are more personalized, adaptable and engaging. This book gives a view on current limitations of the technology, ideas for problem-solving the challenges of designing this technology, and a perspective on future research directions. For all readers, the content on cultural, legal and ethical dimensions of digital mental health will be useful. - Gives a comprehensive overview of the field of digital therapeutics and research on their efficacy, effectiveness, scalability and cost-effectiveness - Introduces novel directions in which digital therapeutics are currently being extended, including personalized interventions delivered in real-time - Reviews important considerations surrounding digital therapeutics, including how they can be monetized and scaled, ethical issues, cultural adaptations, privacy and security concerns, and potential pitfalls

Mental Health in a Digital World addresses mental health assessments and interventions using digital technology, including mobile phones, wearable devices and related technologies. Sections discuss mental health data collection and analysis for purposes of assessment and treatment, including the use of electronic medical records and information technologies to improve services and research, the use of digital technologies to enhance communication, psychoeducation, screening for mental disorders, the problematic use of the internet, including internet gambling and gaming, cybersex and cyberchondria, and internet interventions, ranging from online psychotherapy to mobile phone apps and virtual reality adjuncts to psychotherapy. - Reviews research and applications of digital technology to mental health - Includes digital technologies for assessment, intervention, communication and education - Addresses data collection and analysis, service delivery and the therapeutic relationship - Discusses the E-related disorders that complicate digital intervention

GovTech is a key enabler of digital government. As governments increasingly focus on how best to experiment with and adopt digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, GovTech offers a mechanism to do so in a way that is agile, innovative, and cost-effective. Not only does this help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the public sector, but it can also foster the participation of start-ups and newer providers in the government market. However, despite the value that countries see in GovTech, there are varying levels of maturity in its implementation. As such, this publication presents the OECD’s definition of GovTech and sets out its GovTech Policy Framework – guiding countries on how to create the ideal conditions for GovTech collaborations and determine the right scenarios in which to use GovTech for maximum impact. By using the OECD GovTech Policy Framework as a guide, governments can more confidently use GovTech partnerships to enable a more effective and innovative digital transformation.