Digital interventions to detect, prevent and manage mental health problems in people with chronic diseases: Knowledge synthesis

The global COVID-19 pandemic is affecting most countries and has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths to date. Considered a humanitarian disaster, it will have serious impacts on the mental health of the population, especially the most vulnerable groups, including people with chronic diseases. These individuals are at greater risk of developing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, risks increased by the loss of social support and loneliness. If left untreated, these problems can have long-term consequences on people's health and increase the costs related to their treatment. Scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of front-line interventions to improve the management of mental health problems in people living with chronic diseases. However, there is little knowledge about interventions that use digital technologies. In the context of the current crisis, these technologies can be a relevant solution to better reach people living with chronic diseases and intervene with them. Our project will verify whether there are effective digital health interventions to prevent, detect and manage mental health problems in people living with chronic diseases. First, we will consult documents that summarize the results of research on the subject. Then, we will summarize the knowledge identified and share it with the team's partners. Finally, we will conduct further research in the scientific literature in order to most adequately answer the partners' questions. This project will make it possible to develop digital health solutions for optimal monitoring of mental health problems in people with chronic diseases, adapting to the context of the COVID-19 crisis.