Since late 2024, the Child and Adolescent Resource Centre (CARC) has implemented a digital therapy initiative offering young people an innovative and evidence-based approach to addressing mental health challenges. The initiative provided professional mental health support in a convenient and flexible format accessible through digital devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Why Digital Therapy?
- Research has shown that digital therapy can be as effective as face-to-face therapy for certain mental health difficulties, particularly in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- The therapy combined weekly remote sessions with practical exercises, videos and written materials, as well as the opportunity to communicate with a therapist via chat. This approach enabled young people to work at their own pace while receiving professional guidance and support throughout the process.
Who Was the Service For?
- The service was available to young people aged 14–25 experiencing mental health difficulties. Young people could apply independently or with the support of an adult.
- Before starting therapy, each young person received an initial consultation with a CARC specialist to assess whether digital therapy was suitable for their individual needs. If considered appropriate, therapy could begin within a few days.
How Did Digital Therapy Work?
- The digital therapy programme was designed for young people who were motivated to address their mental health difficulties and able to dedicate approximately 1–2 hours per week to the therapeutic process. Access to an internet-connected smartphone, tablet or other suitable device was required.
- Parents and caregivers were also encouraged to support young people by creating an environment that fostered engagement and motivation throughout the therapy process.
- Through this initiative, CARC expanded the ways in which professional mental health support could be delivered to young people, exploring digital solutions as a flexible and accessible complement to traditional face-to-face support.
The digital therapy pilot was implemented as part of the “Healthcare Service Model Development Laboratory” project under the Health component of the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
