Adaptable design for talk-based mental health interventions

Abstract

The cost to society of mental illness is substantial. This thesis proposes and provides practical illustration of an adaptable approach to the design of technology for talk-based mental health interventions. The approach has been developed in response to identified challenges of designing in the mental health care (MHC) domain. The primary aims of the adaptable approach are twofold. Firstly it aims to support effective collaboration between human computer interaction (HCI) and MHC professionals, and secondly it aims to provide a sustainable approach to the development of user-centred technologies, which can be adapted to meet the needs of a broad variety of both therapists and clients. An overall two stage approach is described. Stage one focuses on design and development. Rather than developing fixed solutions, it is proposed that flexible systems are developed. Further to this it is proposed that the ability to make adaptations to systems be placed in the hands of MHC professionals. Stage two focuses on clinical evaluations. MHC professionals have the opportunity to adapt and then evaluate systems which suit their own needs and those of their clients. Effective communication channels between stages one and two are an essential element of the approach. It is envisioned that stages one and two will overlap and complement one another, with stage one being lead by HCI researchers and stage two by MHC professionals.