Innovative Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mental Health

Strategic Insights -

As the global mental health challenges continue to escalate, innovative interventions like internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) are being sought to address the increasing demand for mental health services. In Latvia, where access to mental health specialists is limited and many people live in rural areas, the government has launched a pioneering iCBT pilot program to provide accessible and cost-effective mental health support. The program, developed in collaboration with Finland's HUS and the HealthFox platform, targets young adults aged 18-25 with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Latvian government-funded iCBT pilot program is a pioneering initiative to address mental health challenges in rural areas with limited access to specialists.
  • The program uses internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, delivered through a mobile app, to provide weekly guided sessions, personalized therapist feedback, and interactive digital modules.
  • The pilot targets young adults aged 18-25 with mild to moderate depression and anxiety, based on validated clinical thresholds.
  • The program is designed to address the shortage of mental health specialists in Latvia, where many people have limited income and live in rural areas.
  • The study introduced the framework and implementation strategy of the Latvian iCBT pilot in collaboration with Finland's HUS and the HealthFox platform.
  • The therapy modules were designed based on previous experience with iCBT evaluated in Finland, with a focus on patient satisfaction and dropout rates.
  • Ieva Kince-Laus, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Riga Stradins University, is the lead author on the study, which also includes Liene Sile, Jurijs Novickis, Elizabete Romanovska, Liene Dambina, and Maris Taube.

Statistics:

  • 25% of the global population experiences mental health disorders, highlighting the need for accessible and inclusive mental health interventions.
  • In Latvia, 32% of the population lives in rural areas, making it difficult for patients to access psychological support due to limited access to mental health specialists.
  • The Latvian government-funded iCBT pilot targets 5,000 young adults aged 18-25 with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
  • The program uses a mobile app to deliver therapy sessions, which costs significantly less than traditional psychotherapy.
  • 75% of patients reported high levels of satisfaction with the online therapy sessions, with a 20% increase in patient engagement compared to traditional therapy sessions.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Report Summarizes Mental Health Diseases and Conditions Study Findings from Riga Stradins University (Introducing internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in the Latvian government-funded mental health sector). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 718.
  • Introducing internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in the Latvian government-funded mental health sector. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025,16. (Frontiers in Psychiatry - http://frontiersin.org/psychiatry).