ABSTRACT
Digital technologies have the potential to revolutionise clinical research and treatment. This chapter discusses recent developments in this area and how they may be of particular relevance to young people experiencing mental health difficulties. This includes consideration of the internet as an information source, as well as its potential to help promote help-seeking among young people. Advances in the use of smartphone and wearable technologies to monitor symptoms, identify early signs of relapse and even provide clinical intervention are also discussed. While many hope that these tools will help to overcome issues around the availability, accessibility and rising costs associated with existing mental health services, there is still much to learn in order to optimise these approaches before they become the norm in routine clinical care. In addition to highlighting recent advances in this field, this chapter also includes a number of important factors that need to be considered in the design, use and evaluation of these digital resources.
