The Cost-Effectiveness of Digitally Supported Mental Well-Being Prevention and Promotion Targeting Nonclinical Adult Populations: Systematic Review

Background In recent years, policymakers worldwide have been increasingly concerned with promoting public mental well-being. While digitally supported well-being interventions seem effective in general nonclinical populations, their cost-effectiveness remains unclear. Objective This study aims to systematically synthesize evidence on the cost-effectiveness of digitally supported mental well-being interventions targeting the general population or adults with subclinical mental health symptoms. Methods PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched for health economic or cost-minimization studies. Eligibility criteria included interventions in the general population or adults showing risk factors or subclinical mental health symptoms, with at least 1 digital component. Study quality was comprehensively assessed using the Consensus Health Economic Criteria list. Results Of 3455 records identified after duplicate removal, 12 studies were included: 3 studies evaluated universal prevention, 3 investigated selective prevention, and 6 covered indicated prevention. Six studies applied a societal perspective. Incremental cost-utility ratios were reported in 6 of the included studies and varied from dominant to €18,710 (US $ 23,185) per quality-adjusted life year. In general, digitally supported well-being interventions in nonclinical adults, and particularly indicated prevention strategies, seemed to generate improved health outcomes at lower costs from a societal perspective. The quality appraisal highlighted several shortcomings of the available literature. Conclusions Overall, the use of digital tools for mental well-being prevention and promotion in nonclinical adult populations has the potential to be cost-effective. Nevertheless, to adequately guide policymaking, more evidence is still needed. Future studies should ensure valid argumentation for the applied time horizon and perspective, alongside rigorous sensitivity analyses in accordance with best practices to improve cost-effectiveness evidence. Furthermore, assessment methods more sensitive to changes in well-being such as the EQ Health and Well-being instrument could be considered.