Help, near and far: a systematic review of post-COVID digital mental health solutions for domestic violence victims.

INTRODUCTION

Domestic violence (DV), as a global pandemic, poses a significant challenge within the field of public health, gravely impacting the mental and physical health of victims. Modern digital technologies have been proposed as promising interventions for DV-related mental health problems. We therefore evaluated their effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review digital interventions targeting the mental health of DV survivors and to summarize implications for health professionals and policy makers.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science (January 1, 2020-April 23, 2024) following PRISMA guidelines. Two reviewers independently screened records, applied predefined eligibility criteria, and extracted data. Owing to heterogeneity, we performed a narrative synthesis. Meanwhile, based on the results of the literature review, this paper proposes a series of policy recommendations from a post-COVID-19 era perspective, integrating societal context and relevant policies.

RESULTS

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Three reported no significant mental-health benefits, whereas the remainder showed improvements in outcomes such as depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, emotion regulation, perceived support, or safety preparedness using tools including mobile apps, web-based programs, virtual reality, chatbots, and video adjuncts.

CONCLUSION

Digital interventions show promise for improving mental-health outcomes among DV survivors, but their implementation requires attention to safety, engagement, cultural adaptation, and integration with offline services.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023488560.