Optimising the depression pathway enabled by novel digital assessment technology

"Depression is the leading cause of disability in the UK today with over a million people seeking or receiving treatment at any one time. However, for patients, finding the right treatment can be difficult particularly at a vulnerable time in their lives. For many patients even effective treatment can take weeks and often months to work, and support during recovery can be hard to find. Many patients seek help from their GPs, but may have to wait some time for what can be perceived as a non-urgent appointment. Moreover, the assessment and treatment provided by GP practices varies widely across the country and the quality of care critically depends on the availability of GPs with specialist knowledge of mental health conditions. We aim to significantly improve the treatment of low mood and depression by implementing innovative digital technologies that empower healthcare professionals to better diagnose mental health problems and get patients on to the right treatment sooner than existing methods. The project will assess an optimised depression pathway to improve choice and access to quality care for people with low mood and depression. We will implement a systematic approach to the treatment of depression through local health centres providing a 'walk-in' service with access to a range of healthcare professionals with specialist training and supported by innovative digital technology. Our project brings together GPs, healthcare professionals and charities in one place with the aim of quickly identifying the most appropriate treatment for each patient. Early intervention and monitoring enabled by digital technology is designed to improve outcomes by ensuring that if symptoms escalate, patients can be efficiently and effectively switched to better treatments sooner. This digitally enabled precision medicine approach will reduce the need for referrals to scarce secondary and crisis care services and free up time for GPs to focus on the most severe cases.

Initially, this innovative program will be implemented, evaluated and refined in selected GP practices in Kent. Critical to this work is the involvement of patients to ensure that existing concerns and problems faced by them when seeking help with depression are addressed. Such patient involvement is supported by MIND, a charity specialising in supporting people with mental health conditions. Through this optimised depression pathway, enabled by digital technologies we will wrap care around the patient returning them to good health sooner, thereby enabling them to return to the healthy, productive lives they desire."