Digital peer support as an approach to TechQuity in mental health
This opinion piece aims to argue that digital peer support (DPS) services can meet unmet mental health needs by offering scalable, anonymous and affordable alternatives to typical mental health care. This paper applies the 5A’s of TechQuity: Availability, Accessibility, Accommodation, Affordability and Acceptability, analyzing how DPS can offer greater health equity in digital settings. DPS may be especially beneficial for individuals that experience social isolation, stigma, subclinical symptoms, and barriers like cost and transportation. When such digital tools are designed with attention to safety, moderation, digital inclusion and referral pathways, they can support social connectedness, promote emotional well-being, and bridge to in-person services when needed. This paper approaches DPS as a social inclusion model, rather than only a digital health tool. DPS’s promising roles in bridging subclinical support and in-person mental health care are emphasized.