Ecological Momentary Interventions in Public Mental Health Provision

Many people who suffer from mental disorders do not have access to adequate treatment options and the use of, and access to, prevention and mental health promotion remains limited. The rapid advances in digital technology make a compelling case to help deliver and implement evidence-based interventions in areas of public mental health provision (i.e., mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders). Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) represent a powerful approach that enables provision of adaptive and personalised intervention components. EMIs build on principles of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and are centred around the dynamics of individuals’ experience and behaviour, and their interaction with contextual factors in daily life. They offer a unique opportunity to deliver personalized interventions that are tailored to what individuals need in a given moment, context, and setting. This chapter explores the conceptual framework within which EMIs are defined, outlines their current applications, and provides an outlook of technology-enabled mental health care.