Digital Lifelines Scotland

Project impact

2000 people at risk of drug related harm or death now digitally included

300 digital harm reduction champions

Shortlisted for the Digital Inclusion award at the Digital Health and Care Scotland Awards 2024

Digital Lifelines Scotland, a £3.1 million programme funded by the Scottish Government and Drug Deaths Taskforce, aims to improve digital inclusion and health outcomes for drug users. Led by DHI, with SCVO and Simon Community Scotland, it operates through six key workstreams, including Digital Inclusion and Integration.

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Digital Lifelines Scotland seeks to improve digital inclusion and to design digital solutions that better meet people's needs, improve healthy outcomes for people who use drugs and reduce the risk of harm and death. It is implemented through six key workstreams: Digital Inclusion; Digital Products and Services; Digital Integration; Benefits Realisation and Evaluation; Communication and Engagement; and Workforce. Digital Lifelines Scotland is a £3.1million programme joint funded by the Scottish Government's Digital Health and Care and Drug Policy Directorates and the Drug Deaths Taskforce. Led by the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the programme is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and Simon Community Scotland.

DHI manage the Digital Products and Services workstream supporting the co-production of 3 digital technology projects: Here4U Scotland - A partnership between Aberdeen Alcohol and Drugs Action and the University of Stirling piloted the viability of using the Brave App to detect and respond to overdose with people who use drugs alone. By My Side - Simon Community Scotland has developed a Digital Harm Reduction App allowing easy access to evidence-based harm reduction support, advice and resources. On-Line Engagement (OLE) The University of St Andrews is exploring the use of the ‘Near Me' video consulting service to increase addiction services engagement and coverage for the treatment of people who use opioids in Scotland.

Summary

Digital Lifelines Scotland, a £3.1 million programme funded by the Scottish Government and Drug Deaths Taskforce, aims to improve digital inclusion and health outcomes for drug users. Led by DHI, with SCVO and Simon Community Scotland, it operates through six key workstreams, including Digital Inclusion and Integration.

Partners

Digital Lifelines Scotland seeks to increase digital inclusion and to design new digital solutions with and for people with multiple and complex needs at increased risk of drug-related harm to ensure that: People have greater access to the confidence, skills, and motivation alongside devices and connectivity that form digital solutions that keep them safe and that enable them to become and remain connected to family, friends and relevant services that support them.

The services that support these people have the digital means to develop and strengthen the support they provide, and staff that are skilful in using and developing digital solutions to enable those they support. The sector is connected and collaborating, developing joined-up services and exploring digital solutions together.

Impact & value

The programme is now in the develop/deliver phase, working collaboratively with partners and incorporating all learnings into the delivery of the remainder of the programme.

The Digital Product and Services workstream products: Here4U pilot completed Dec 2023 By My Side is funded until March 2025 to continue to expand functionality, content and coverage. OLE is funded until March 2025.

Progress to date

Delivery Plan 2023-25 Executive Summary

Staff related to the project

Carrie is the Portfolio Lead for Digital Lifelines Scotland, a programme supported by the Digital Health and Care Directorate within the Scottish Government and managed by DHI.

Carrie also leads the Chief Scientist Office Reducing Drug Deaths Innovation programme, and both programmes are focused on reducing the risk of death and harm for people who use drugs through digital solutions.

This joint portfolio links to Carrie’s academic and NHS background in addiction services and draws on her experience from over 10 years at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the Office for Digital Health.

An advocate for health and care innovation, she is interested in the role of digital solutions to improve the health outcomes for people who use drugs and to better meet people's needs across health and care.

Freyja is a design researcher whose interest in design revolves around taking an empathetic approach to meaningful and creative engagement. Her background is in design consultancy where she worked with a range of public and third sector clients.

Freyja graduated with a Masters in innovation design and since then has worked on a wide variety of projects. From understanding the experiences and preferences of young people around mental health support to exploring possible futures around research in a critical care setting.

Gabriele is a Design Technologist and UX Designer. His interests range from creative coding to user interface design and user testing.

Gabriele is a philosophy graduate from the University of Sheffield and has also obtained a Master’s degree in IT at the University of Glasgow. He spent a year in Singapore at NUS studying eastern philosophy, and philosophy of science & technology and deepening his knowledge of Mandarin Chinese, which he acquired a few years prior while teaching English in China.

Gabriele started his career as a software developer working for a small software company in Edinburgh. He then moved to Hong Kong to pursue a role as a UX designer, working for a technology and travel company.

After this experience, he decided to come back to Scotland, a country he loves and hopes to contribute to making it even better.

Lisa is the Programme Manager for Digital Lifelines Scotland and works for Programme Management Services within NHS National Services Scotland. Digital Lifelines Scotland is a programme supported by the Digital Health and Care Directorate within the Scottish Government and managed by DHI.

With a strong background in Project and Programme Management, Lisa has worked across a number of national initiatives within the Public Sector in both her current and previous roles.

Marissa is a Research Fellow and Innovation Designer focusing on health, wellbeing, and equity. She has previously worked as a digital designer, software developer, and product manager. Marissa has an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and an MRes in Design.

Marissa's research adopts a human rights and trauma-informed design approach to health and care. Her interests include digital interaction and user interface (UI) design, inclusivity and accessibility, empowering marginalised communities, and the ability of design and technology to act as a helping hand.

Mateus is a Digital Designer with a passion for communication and education. His main area of expertise is motion design, branding, and videography.

Before obtaining his degree in Digital Design, he has gone through various creative fields such as audiovisual arts, 3D Design, UX/UI, and Graphic Design.

Originally from Brazil, he has worked to provide a voice to indigenous minorities in the Amazon jungle. Mateus strongly believes that great design can change human behaviour and leave a lasting positive impact on the world.

Olivia is our Marketing, PR, and Events Assistant at DHI, where she plays a pivotal role in delivering key events and marketing initiatives. With a focus on the #DigiInventors Challenge, Olivia leads the day-to-day development and execution of this flagship programme, ensuring its success across Scotland and internationally.

Olivia's responsibilities extend to overseeing the logistics and promotion of various DHI events, both in-person and online. She provides essential support in public relations, social media management, and marketing communications, working closely with the Head of Communications and Marketing to maintain DHI's public-facing activities.

Her background includes a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Advertising and Public Relations from the City of Glasgow College, equipping her with a robust foundation in marketing and communication.

Pamela’s role is to ensure that the programme of projects is effectively resourced; that our processes and tools support high-quality delivery of the work (using Prince II Agile) and that we achieve the benefits and strategic objectives of the portfolio.

As a qualified Programme and Project Manager Pamela has 24 years of experience in UK and international projects. Her career started in managing international development projects in Australia. On returning to London, she moved into the NHS and subsequently spent many years working across healthcare in England and Scotland.

Her programmes have spanned public health, commissioning, and service development including scaling of digital health services including the ‘Dynamic Scot’ programme on supported self-management of COPD; and the European ‘Mastermind’ programme in Scotland which paved the way for a national roll-out of Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

This programme is currently live and we will continue to deliver this portfolio until March 2025. DHI is currently leading on seeking future funding opportunities to continue the achievements for the programme.

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Digital Lifelines Scotland

Project impact

2000 people at risk of drug related harm or death now digitally included

300 digital harm reduction champions

Shortlisted for the Digital Inclusion award at the Digital Health and Care Scotland Awards 2024

Visit the website

Summary

Partners

Impact & value

Progress to date

Staff related to the project

Next steps

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