Digital mental health technologies could save NHS time, says NICE

The use of recommended digital therapies for mental health conditions could free up thousands of NHS therapists’ hours, according to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

In a press release, published on 19 September 2024, NICE said that demand for NHS talking therapies has reached “an all-time high”, with 1.82 million referrals in 2023/24, compared to 884,000 in 2012/13.

There are seven digitally enabled therapies recommended by NICE to treat depression and anxiety disorders in adults, which can be accessed online or through apps. These can be used in NHS talking therapies while more evidence is generated on…