Journal article
Structuring Digital Mental Health Care Navigation: Co-Design Nominal Group Technique Study to Develop the MChart Definition and Typology of the Characteristics of Digital Mental Health Care Navigation Tools
JMIR Mental Health, Vol.13, pp.1-13
2026
PMCID: PMC13458349
PMID: 42508000
Abstract
Background:
Australia’s mental health care system has been characterized by complexity and fragmentation, as highlighted by numerous reports, commissions, and inquiries. In response, digital mental health care navigation tools have emerged as a promising solution to help individuals locate appropriate mental health services. The rapid proliferation of these tools—without a clear understanding of their definitions and characteristics—risks creating confusion rather than clarity for users. Terms such as “navigation” and “navigators” are often used interchangeably, further complicating the landscape.
Objective:
This study addressed the need for a standardized definition and typology of the characteristics of digital mental health care navigation tools.
Methods:
This study was part of the development of a digital mental health care navigation tool for navigators and planners (MChart). It used a co-design approach using expert-based cooperative analysis, which is a nominal group technique to develop a definition and typology of the characteristics of digital mental health care navigation tools. This process was guided by the Technology Readiness Level for Implementation Sciences framework. The co-design process involved two 2-hour sessions with an expert panel comprising 28 participants, including representatives from mental health planning, primary health care, health care financing and delivery, community-managed organizations, clinical settings (psychiatrists, psychologists, and general practitioners), and consumers.
Results:
The expert panel collaboratively developed a consensus definition of digital mental health care navigation tools, outlining their scope and intended targets. Through the co-design process, the panel identified 157 characteristics of digital mental health care navigation tools. These characteristics were organized into 5 primary domains: type, management, content, design, and quality. The definition and typology characteristics provide a structured framework for understanding and evaluating the diverse range of digital mental health care navigation tools currently available.
Conclusions:
The co-designed definition and typology offer a foundational step toward reducing confusion in the digital mental health care navigation space. This study supports the development of quality standards that can be used to assess and compare existing and future tools. This framework has the potential to guide developers, end users, and policymakers in creating more effective, user-centered navigation solutions within Australia’s mental health care system and internationally.
Details
- Title
- Structuring Digital Mental Health Care Navigation: Co-Design Nominal Group Technique Study to Develop the MChart Definition and Typology of the Characteristics of Digital Mental Health Care Navigation Tools
- Authors
- Jane Koerner (Corresponding Author) - University of CanberraLuis Salvador-Carulla - Australian National UniversityCindy Woods - University of CanberraSebastian Rosenberg - The University of SydneyMaryAnne Furst - University of CanberraSue Lukersmith - University of CanberraHossein Tabatabaei-Jafari - University of the Sunshine CoastAmir Aryani - Swinburne University of TechnologyMChart Expert Panel
- Publication details
- JMIR Mental Health, Vol.13, pp.1-13
- Publisher
- JMIR Publications, Inc.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.2196/91462
- ISSN
- 2368-7959
- PMID
- 42508000; PMC13458349
- Copyright note
- ©Jane Koerner, Luis Salvador-Carulla, Cindy Woods, Sebastian Rosenberg, MaryAnne Furst, Sue Lukersmith, Hossein Tabatabaei-Jafari, Amir Aryani, MChart Expert Panel. Originally published in JMIR Mental Health (https://mental.jmir.org), 27.Jul.2026. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Mental Health, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://mental.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.
- Data Availability
- The data are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions but may be obtained from the corresponding author on reasonable request and with permission from the institutional review board.
- Grant note
- This study was conducted as part of a project titled “A Local Navigation Tool for Mental Health Care (MChart): Demonstration Study in ACT”, which is funded by Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre Limited (project DHCRC-0201). Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre Limited is funded under the Australian Cooperative Research Centres program.
- Organisation Unit
- Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991250407502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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