News

User representative Stine Hope Spjeld

We are pleased to present Stine Hope Spjeld (29), user representative in Forhelse. Stine is employed by Forhelse to contribute her user experience to ensure that the user perspective in the center is taken care of. She is a trained nurse, and will soon finish further education in e-health. She also works as a nurse in eMeistring Helse Bergen, and is a part of the experience panel for mental health and substance abuse in Helse Bergen. She has participated in several projects, and is passionate about promoting user participation and the user perspective within digital mental health services.   

– What is your motivation for being a user representative for Forhelse?

I have a great commitment to increased availability of treatment services, quality, communication, user participation and comprehensive health services. My motivation for being a user representative for Forhelse is to include the user perspective, and ensure that the users of digital mental health services have a central role in the center.

– What makes you think that a center as such is important?

I think such a center is important for quality, research, knowledge, competence, innovation and further development in the health service.

– How can the center ensure that the user perspective is taken care of?

The center must be curious, open and interested in the users’ perspective, needs and experiences. Surveys and user surveys should be made over time, as the needs can change along the way. Users; patients, relatives and user representatives must be involved as resources and equal partners.

– What do you think your most important contribution as a user representative will be?

My most important contribution as a user representative will be to be a clear voice for users of digital mental health services, both patients and relatives. I will work to ensure that users have the opportunity and access to influence, develop and contribute to change. I will do this by actively participating, being open and interested in all relevant processes in the center.

– What do you think could be the biggest challenges for this center?

One of the challenges for the center may well be the time aspect. In relation to change and development in the health service and with the user partners, considering that the center will exist for eight years. Another challenge may be scattered environments and locations for the various people involved in the center.

– In what way do you think that the digital mental health sercvices benefit the patients?

I believe that the use of digital mental health services can contribute to increased availability of treatment, and that patients for whom this format is suitable will find it useful that they can to a greater extent adapt treatment to their own everyday lives and routines.

– What do you think distinguishes digital treatment from ordinary face-to-face treatment, and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

The main difference is probably the format. Treatment is performed digitally, or so-called traditionally where the patient and therapist meet face-to-face. There are pros and cons to both. Advantages of digital treatment can be that the treatment is available anytime and anywhere, as long as one has internet. It can provide increased availability of treatment to people who live far away from the nearest treatment center. The treatment can be experienced as flexible, and can be adapted to your own everyday life and routines. Some disadvantages of digital processing can be challenges with the technical, or with concentration difficulties or reading and writing difficulties if it is digital treatment with lots of text and tasks. There is also a possibility that misunderstandings can more easily arise from written contact than from oral face-to-face treatment.

 – What do you think can be improved in today’s healthcare and services? 

I am interested in holistic health services. If I am to highlight something that can be improved, there is a desire in the future for a more holistic health service that communicates and interacts better across different disciplines, hospitals and municipalities. For example, across somatic and psychiatric health services. I also see an increasing need when it comes to patient follow-up after a diagnosis/hospitalization, such as offering treatment and coping programs to people with chronic diseases/conditions. In addition to increased focus on offers and follow-up for relatives.

 – Have you received feedback from patients who have used digital mental health services? If so, what do patients say about the services?

I have received feedback from people who have either used digital mental health services or who want more information about the offer. In general, many are open and positive about the fact that the treatment is so flexible in terms of time and place, and that it can be adapted to their everyday life. Some express that they have postponed treatment because they do not want to physically show up for treatment. Others say that digital treatment does not sound like a good treatment plan for them. This is because they prefer to meet therapists face-to-face, and need a clear structure and framework, such as specific time and place for the treatment. It must be emphasized that this will be completely individual from person to person.