Cited by 127Technology Use by Older AdultsHealth Literacy and Information AccessibilityICT in Developing Communities

Can't surf, won't surf: The digital divide in mental health

Open access
Ennis, Liam, Rose, Diana, Denis, Mike, Pandit, Ninjeri, Wykes, Til·2012·Journal of Mental Health

Abstract

BACKGROUND: New health information technology (HIT) increasingly plays a role in health care as technology becomes cheaper and more widespread. However, there is a danger that those who do not use or have access to technology will not benefit from HIT innovations, thus creating a "digital divide". AIMS: To assess the extent to which mental health service users have access to, skills in using and appetite for various technologies. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was used to assess technology use and access patterns of 121 people from community mental health services. Data were analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Technology use and access were very similar to that of the general population with older individuals reporting less familiarity, access and confidence across a range of technologies. Black, minority and ethnic (BME) groups were more likely to access computers outside of their own homes than white individuals. Older participants experiencing psychosis indicated a desire to increase their computer use. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reported here contrast with recent evidence suggesting that those who do not engage with technology are "self-excluders". Furthermore, BME groups may need extra support regarding provision of technology in order to engage with HIT.

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Crossref · 10.3109/09638237.2012.689437

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  • The digital divide further evolved into inequalities in human capital, increasing rural-urban differences in physical and mental health.

    “Previous studies confirmed that the digital divide further evolved into inequalities in human capital, increasing rural–urban differences in physical and mental health (e.g., Ennis et al., 2012; Shah et al., 2020).”

    From COVID-19 pandemic and adolescent mental health in China: Micro evidence and socioeconomic mechanisms (2022) · cites this paper as Ennis et al., 2012

    The Introduction describes differences in technology access by education, age, medical condition, and employment, while the Discussion examines technology use among mental health service users. Neither section addresses whether the digital divide produces inequalities in human capital or increases rural–urban differences in physical and mental health. Searches for those terms and their paraphrases found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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  • The failure of mental health apps can no longer be explained by a digital divide in technology access, though equitable access to ICTs for people with lived experience remains a problem.

    “This failure can no longer be attributed to a "digital divide" concerning access to technology, although equitable access to ICTs by PWLE remains an issue 108,109 .”

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Authors
Ennis, L., Rose, D., Denis, M., Pandit, N., & Wykes, T.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Corresponding author
Ennis, Liam
Venue
Journal of Mental Health
Published
2012-06-19
Volume
21
Issue
4
Pages
395-403
ISSN
  • 0963-8237 (ISSN-L)
  • 1360-0567
OpenAlex
W2065266979
Cited by
127
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5
FWCI
16.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Journal of Mental Health (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute for Health and Care Research (RP-PG-0606-1050)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
Keywords
digital divide, mental health service users, health information technology, access to technology, technology use, technological competence, older adults, psychosis, community mental health services, self-exclusion
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attitude to Computers, Mental Disorders, Community Mental Health Services, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, United Kingdom, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Socioeconomic Factors, Logistic Models, Telemedicine

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