Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster (DMHIC)
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) is commissioned to establish, develop and facilitate Scotland’s Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster (DMHIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government’s Digital Mental Health Programme.
It was formally launched in March 2022 to provide a ‘hub’ in support of action 15.7 of The Scottish Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): Mental Health – Scotland’s Transition and Recovery Plan within the context of Digital Innovation.
Action 15.7:
To explore the use of an innovation hub model to encourage identification, development and evaluation of technologies focused on the needs of the population. Developing Innovation Hubs will help support individuals, organisations, academics, and commercial companies to work together to identify, design and develop innovative digital solutions while being guided by expertise within the mental health field including people with lived experience.
The Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster (DMHIC) unites industry representatives, healthcare professionals, academics, public sector services, third-sector organisations, and citizens. It fosters powerful collaborations by aligning expertise from diverse sectors to address shared goals. This cluster collects and shares global and local insights, identifies and develops innovative products and services, and builds knowledge to tackle key challenges in mental health and wellbeing.
We provide dedicated spaces for interaction within local mental health ecosystems, encouraging knowledge exchange and attracting a wide range of stakeholders from different innovation communities. The cluster connects people and links directly to government policy and national implementation programmes, facilitating the development and deployment of technologies across Scotland. Supported by an Advisory Board, we receive valuable clinical, academic, and business insights, ensuring focused and effective progress in digital mental health initiatives.
Focus
The current focus within the Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster (DMHIC) is self-management. The goal of this cluster is to drive impactful innovations that enhance self-management practices, leading to improved health outcomes for our communities.
By fostering collaboration among industry representatives, healthcare professionals, academics, and citizens, the DMHIC aims to develop and implement solutions that empower individuals to take control of their mental health and wellbeing. Through these efforts, we strive to create a significant positive impact on the quality of life and health outcomes for people across Scotland.
Overview
Resources
To support knowledge exchange we share all relevant DMHIC related assets and information with our network.
-
28/09/2023 - 6th Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
21/03/2023 - 5th Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
13/12/2022 - 4th Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
20/09/2022 - 3rd Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
01/09/2022 - Introduction to the UKRI Mindset Programme and grant funding opportunity
-
28/06/2022 - 2nd Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
-
07/02/2024 - Question and Answer event with Chris Wright | Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster
-
16/08/2022 - Mental Health in The Digital Age Roundtable | Health Tech World
-
Innovating Mental Health Services in Scotland SBRI Challenge Launch Event [video recording]
-
21/03/2023 - 5th Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
13/12/2022 - 4th Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
20/09/2022 - 3rd Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
01/09/2022 - Introduction to the UKRI Mindset Programme and grant funding opportunity
-
28/06/2022 - 2nd Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting
-
10/03/2022 - 1st Scotland's Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Launch Event
-
-
Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster : Annual Report 2022-2023 [REPORT]
-
NHS Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy: Delivery Plan 2023-2025 [REPORT]
-
Young Scot Insight Technology Enabled Care Report November 2018 [REPORT]
-
Emerging Innovations in Digital Mental Health: A Deeper Dive [REPORT]
-
Orcha Digital and Mental Health Recovery Action Plans 2021 [REPORT]
-
#TECScotland: health and care in a digital future 2020 [REPORT]
-
Community Mental Health and Wellbeing: What Does Gold Standard Look Like? [Report - May 2021]
-
Review of Current Use of Digital Solutions for Mental Health [Report - April 2020]
-
-
Joanne Boyle: DMHIC Strategic Lead
-
Anna Whyte: DMHIC Project Support
Advisory Board Members
The cluster is supported by an Advisory Board whose members provide valuable insights into the clinical, academic, and business aspects of digital mental health. The advisory board attend bi-monthly meeting to discuss and offer high-quality advice to provide a focused scope to make effective strategic change.
-
Chris Wright: National Advisor for Digital Mental Health at The Scottish Government and Head of the Digital Mental Health Programme. Chris’ role in the team is to facilitate the ongoing management of the DMHIC, while overseeing the development of strategy, policy, service, and innovative technologies to be implemented across the NHS in Scotland.
-
Dawn Robb: Programme Manager: Dawn has worked in the NHS for over a decade, working in both territorial and national boards. Dawn has been working on the Near Me Programme since 2016 and in her current role is Near Me Project Manager for the Social Services use of Near Me.
-
Andy Keen: Clinical lead for Innovation (NHS Grampian). Dr Andrew Keen is responsible for all strategic and operational innovation activity, which is increasingly focused on trying to solve major health and social care delivery challenges.
-
Andrew Gumley: Consultant clinical psychologist. Andrew Gumley is a professor of psychological therapy in the school of health and wellbeing at UoG. Honorary consultant. One of Andrews main clinical interests are the development and evaluation of psychological and digital therapies.
-
Nagore Penades: Consultant Psychiatrist (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde). Nagores’ role in the team is to continue in the support as the Mental Health Innovation Lead at the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, NRS Senior Research Fellow and e-health Lead for Mental Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
-
Donald MacIntyre: Director of the NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Mental Health Network, Honorary Reader Edinburgh University & Consultant Psychiatrist. Donalds role is to guide on the practicality of technological innovations to improve mental health care and treatment. Donald is an NHS consultant general psychiatrist, currently seconded to NHS 24 as Associate Medical Director, a post which he combines with clinical research.
-
Robert Higginson: Co-founder and Partner at Par Equity. Robert is a co-founder of Par Equity and serves on the Investment Committee. He acts as the primary point of contact for new investment opportunities and holds board positions in both the UK and the US. Additionally, he oversees Par Equity’s technology infrastructure.
-
Ciaran Barbour: Digital Strategy Manager SAMH. Ciaran's role is to develop and guide the digital transformation of SAMH, overseeing the strategy and implementation of digital health interventions across the organisation.
-
Janet O’Lowe: Senior Policy Lead and CSO Innovation. Janet is the Senior Policy Lead for CSO Innovation at the Chief Scientist Office. With extensive experience in science and innovation policy, Janet plays a key role in shaping and implementing strategies that drive scientific advancements and innovation.
-
Emerging innovations in digital mental health: A deeper dive
This report explores four emerging innovations in digital mental health—AI, Virtual Reality, Gamification, and Digital Phenotyping—by examining key organisations, leading countries, case studies, and relevant research, based on desktop research of publicly available information.
