At our #DigitalMHA live debate in collaboration with @Mental_Elf  back in the summer, we discussed the opportunities and threats of digitising the Mental Health Act (MHA). In this video we discuss what threats could arise from digitisation.

 

Thalamos is dedicated to digitising the MHA process to get service users access to care more swiftly, simply and safely

However, one of Thalamos’ key values is not digitising purely for the sake of it. There is no point in replicating the faults of the current process in a digital format. We need to use digital to make the process easier and more efficient for the professionals and more human and personal for patients. 

Background

For the discussion, an experienced panel and a select group of mental healthcare professionals including AMHPs, psychiatrists and nurses got together with service users and those with lived experience over Zoom to discuss and debate digitising the Mental Health Act.

Following the 2018 review of the Mental Health Act, there has been growing acceptance that the act requires digitisation. Indeed, it was one of the recommendations of the review itself. Digitisation however is not as simple as perhaps it first seems. It is possible to replicate the existing paper forms digitally, but does that miss the point?

Digitisation presents a huge opportunity for care quality improvements, but it also presents risks. As a values-led organisation and due to the acceleration in digital as a result of COVID-19, Thalamos wanted to hold an interactive debate about the opportunities, challenges and risks associated with digitising the MHA.

The topic sparked a vocal, but healthy debate. It was great to have so many people participate and also to hear so many points of view.

watch our other videos

Opportunities of digitisation

Marginalised groups & the Mental Health Act

 

Read a round up of the whole debate