Digital mental health interventions have not been held to a high standard regarding accessibility.Written by Danielle L. Currin, MA and Erica D. Marshall-Lee, PhD, ABPP on behalf of the Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates
The field of psychology has a less-than-pristine history when it comes to the inclusion of minoritized populations in the development and dissemination of mental health services within the United States. Many of the practices, from therapeutic intervention to neuropsychological assessment, that we consider evidence-based treatments were developed through a Western lens, primarily by and for White adults.
The bottom line for any mental health provider is that identity and culture are not additional factors to consider in treatment, but essential components of the work we do with our clients. When it comes to in-person interventions, all the fidelity in the world amounts to little if the client does not find it useful or accessible. The same applies to digital interventions.
Ellis, D. M., Draheim, A. A., & Anderson, P. L. . Culturally adapted digital mental health interventions for ethnic/racial minorities: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90, 717-733. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000759