Choosing the Right Digital Mental Health Partner: The Questions That Matter Most (7/7)
This is the seventh and final part in a seven-part series from Togetherall's Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Ben Locke – practical questions to ask when evaluating digital mental health providers and cutting through the noise.
Within the digital mental health space, there seems to be an overwhelming list of options when it comes to providers creating an environment that is difficult to navigate. More specifically, it’s difficult to decipher higher quality, safer options versus those options that may use creative language to create the illusion of quality.
It is imperative that you are equipped with the right knowledge and approach when vetting these options and identifying the partners that provide the best fit for both strategy and quality. A great way to get started or reset your approach is to make sure you’re asking the right questions to help you better understand what type of service and support is actually being provided when you look to expand your mental health support network.
The seventh and final blog in this series is about demonstrated moderation. If you missed any of the earlier pieces, they are available here. Additional ones are coming soon.
7. Ask to see an actual event on the platform where moderation occurred so that you can see what the moderation looks like.
Companies seeking to keep costs down, while also claiming to provide “immediate risk identification and intervention”, will often employ what’s known in the industry as “passive signposting”. This approach involves using some combination of techniques (reporting, volunteers, AI, etc.) to identify content of concern and then to display automated or semi-automated messaging to the person. For example, in response to a post that mentions suicide, a service might comment to the member, “If you are having thoughts of suicide, you should call 988.” This is considered passive because it is simply displaying a message that may or may not be seen by the member and involves no true clinical actions by a professional; in addition – the member may or may not see or follow the advice. It’s kind of like holding up a sign when a car passes by.
In contrast, true clinical moderation of a member at risk, customized to their unique situations requires clinical staffing and policies/procedures that describe how the service will seek to make contact with a member, clarify the nature of the risk and their situation, and then develop/activate case-management steps to ensure the member is supported/safe. By asking for these details you will understand what approach the service takes.
This is the seventh and final part in a seven-part series on choosing the right digital mental health partner. If you want the complete set of questions in one place – without waiting for each post – the full guide is available to download now.
About Togetherall
Established in 2007, Togetherall is available to more than 20 million individuals worldwide. Togetherall is the leading clinically managed, peer-to-peer, online support community where members can share what’s on their minds, anonymously, safely, and in-the-moment, 24/7/365. Members can connect through shared lived experiences with a global network of peers, backed by the safeguarding of more than 50 licensed clinicians overseeing the community around-the-clock. These clinicians empower individuals in peer support and foster and maintain a safe, vibrant environment.
If you are interested in offering safe and scalable ways to support your people’s mental health, contact us to book a demo and learn more about Togetherall’s online community.
