MENTALHEALTH.INFOLABMED.COM - The United Kingdom is grappling with a severe mental health waiting list crisis, with patients waiting up to two years for care and 87% reporting their condition deteriorated during the agonising delay.
With the system buckling under demand, a leading expert asserts that digitalisation—guided by proven models from Commonwealth nations—presents the most viable path forward.
Haman Manak, deputy managing director of Stanmore, argues that mental health support in the UK needs to go digital – and the Commonwealth has the blueprint.
The consequences of the current backlog are dire. Beyond clinical deterioration, many have been forced to leave their jobs while waiting, and in the most tragic cases, some have attempted suicide.
"Mental health services in the UK simply aren’t resourced to meet the increasing demand," Manak notes, highlighting years of underfunding and workforce shortages.
The Digital Imperative
The upcoming NHS Online service, a cornerstone of the NHS's 10 Year Health Plan set for a 2027 nationwide launch, is identified as the perfect platform for deploying digital mental health interventions at scale.
Digital tools, such as Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT), offer instant access to support, easing the burden on waiting lists.
A 2019 study found ICBT led to significantly greater symptom improvement for those with mild-to-moderate conditions compared to remaining on a waitlist.
"By giving people instant access to support, from remote counselling to self-management apps, they reduce the number of low-acuity cases sitting on waiting lists – freeing clinicians to focus on people with more complex needs," Manak explains.
The NHS has already seen the logic work in other areas, with digital triage systems slashing waiting times by up to 58% for certain physical health conditions.
A Commonwealth Blueprint for Compassionate Care
Manak urges the UK to look outward, specifically to its Commonwealth partners like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, who have already widely deployed digital mental health tools.
During the pandemic, these nations successfully used digital platforms to connect citizens with free, scalable support.
Australia’s co-designed youth mental health platform, MOST, serves as a standout example, demonstrating marked improvements in depression and anxiety with high user satisfaction.
Manak advocates for more than just inspiration; he proposes a formal digital mental health alliance.
"Partnering with them would enable the UK to pilot proven tools and adapt them to local needs, rather than starting from scratch," he says.
With shared legal frameworks and similar systems, such collaboration could lower development costs, shorten timelines, and share risks, delivering tools to patients faster and generating long-term cost savings for the NHS.
Compassion at the Core
A crucial caveat remains: the digital transition must keep compassion and evidence-based care at its heart. "Not every app is credible, and not every digital pathway will suit every person," Manak cautions.
This, he argues, is precisely why international collaboration is key—it allows for rigorous testing and sharing of solutions on a much larger scale.
Digital care is not intended to replace in-person therapy or medication but to offer earlier, faster support for those with milder conditions and to prevent crises.
"The UK’s current approach to mental health is not working – and patients and healthcare providers are paying the price," Manak concludes.
"Commonwealth collaboration offers a realistic way to shorten queues, strengthen early intervention, and stop the system from buckling altogether."*
