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Looking ahead At DIVERT, we believe that
communities, raising serious concerns about the generalizability and equity of existing tools. Without inclusion, history will repeat itself. It is critical that the new generation of digital and virtual interventions are grounded in more inclusive mental health and wellbeing wisdoms and are developed with the needs and barriers of marginalized communities in mind. What needs to change To transform digital child and youth mental health, we must: 1 Strengthen the evidence base Current research lacks consistent demographic reporting and early childhood inclusion, limiting understanding of reach and equity. More robust data,
2 Build on what works Hybrid models that combine digital tools with in-person delivery through schools or community hubs consistently show the most
innovation in digital mental health starts with how we train, support, and collaborate. It must be inclusive, equitable, and grounded in evidence, not just based on what is available. Digital tools must reach all children and youth, especially communities that have been historically excluded. As we look ahead, our challenge is not just to scale innovation, but to do so with purpose. We must ensure the tools we develop reflect the lived realities of the children, youth, and communities they are meant to support. The time to DIVERT is now. Join us! Go to bit.ly/joinDIVERT
lasting impact. Future efforts should focus on scaling these
approaches while grounding them in strong community relationships and cultural relevance. 3 Center relationships In many digital interventions, symptom reduction and prevention are prioritized, while too little attention is given to building social and cognitive skills. Programs should be designed to strengthen these skills through meaningful relationships — whether peer-to-peer, youth-
to-adult, or within families — and to position both social and cognitive skill- building as central
transparent reporting, and evaluations with equity indicators are needed to guide progress.
outcomes, not afterthoughts.
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