Reflecting on Lived Experience Expertise in Digital Mental Health Research

Lived experience draws on the unique insight gained from personal encounters with mental health challenges, irrespective of formal diagnoses. This viewpoint outlines the important contribution of lived experience in digital mental health research in shaping research priorities, design and delivering digital mental health interventions, and examines ethical considerations. While digital health technologies are frequently developed by researchers and industry experts, lived experience experts bring an important voice in addressing issues such as usability, data privacy, and accessibility. We draw on two case examples - the Wellcome-funded CONNECT study and the Wellcome Data Prize - that demonstrate how engaging lived experience experts can enhance recruitment, design, and equitable participation. We further recommend improved data governance, digital accessibility measures, capacity-building initiatives, and a global commitment to meaningful engagement, to ensure that digital mental health research genuinely reflects and benefits those it is intended to serve.