As eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) marks ten years of leadership in digital mental health, the 10th Digital Mental Health Global Congress felt less like an anniversary and more like the turning of a page. What unfolded in Toronto was not only a celebration of how far the field has come, but also a powerful signal of where it is heading next.
Bringing together the world’s largest gathering dedicated to digital mental health, eMHIC25 convened global leaders from governments, multilateral organisations, academia, technology, healthcare, lived experience communities, and philanthropy. Voices from organisations such as the World Health Organization, United Nations, UNICEF, Google, the Wellcome Trust, and the McKinsey Health Institute joined delegates from 46 countries across all seven continents, creating an atmosphere that many described as unlike any other conference they had attended.
“Sometimes you can feel like working at the intersection of mental health and digital health is a small, niche pocket. This Congress showed just how many partners are pushing toward the same goals.”
A Congress Defined by Energy, Not Just Scale
While the size of eMHIC25 was striking, its real impact lay in the depth of engagement and quality of exchange. Across three days, the Congress buzzed with purposeful conversations, spontaneous collaboration, and an unmistakable sense of momentum.
Participants repeatedly highlighted the openness of dialogue, where policymakers, clinicians, technologists, researchers, and people with lived experience contributed as equals.
“eMHIC attracts people, not titles. It creates a space where ideas, honesty, and shared purpose take precedence.”
This spirit of collaboration extended well beyond the main Congress programme, through a rich ecosystem of side events, knowledge exchanges, and community gatherings that connected ideas to action.
Capturing the Energy: eMHIC25 Photo Gallery
The energy, warmth, and global spirit of eMHIC25 are reflected in our official photo gallery. Featuring images captured by Encore photographer Mark Keena (UNKWN VISUALS) and curated community-shared moments from LinkedIn, the gallery offers a vivid snapshot of the people, connections, and conversations that defined the Congress.
From candid exchanges and packed sessions to celebratory moments and behind-the-scenes collaboration, these images bring the Congress experience to life and highlight the diversity and enthusiasm of our global community.
Beyond the Main Stage: A Rich Ecosystem of Exchange
eMHIC25 was intentionally designed as more than a sequence of presentations. Participants engaged in complementary events that deepened dialogue and strengthened global relationships, including high-level think tanks, expert advisory meetings, youth and AI-focused discussions, practical knowledge exchange sessions, and celebrations recognising leadership and impact.
From systems navigation and governance conversations to future-focused discussions on AI, ethics, and youth engagement, these spaces allowed the community to grapple with the most pressing challenges in digital mental health together.
“This was one of the most complete congresses I have ever attended. Innovation, ancient wisdom, and bold challenge all held in the same space, with respect and curiosity.”
From Fragmentation to Connected Care: A Global Think Tank
A key side event was the eMHIC Think Tank: From Fragmentation to Connected Care, co-led by Monique Jackson (Principal, Nous Group), alongside Ray Messom and Rachel Green, building on momentum from the Australian Digital Navigation Project delivered with SANE.
Framed around the question, what would it take to move from fragmentation to truly connected care, the Think Tank brought together 150 participants from 27 countries to explore structural challenges in mental health systems.
Ahead of the session, participants were invited into the conversation through a Provocations Paper, designed to challenge assumptions and spark bold thinking. The Think Tank identified shared global challenges, explored system design principles, and surfaced opportunities for collaboration across jurisdictions and sectors.
Contributions included perspectives on social and emotional wellbeing, the role of crisis lines within national systems, integrated care models, and place-based community support. Across discussions, one theme emerged clearly: digital mental health is not simply a technology challenge, but a system design and governance challenge.
The group agreed on four priority actions, which will be explored in an upcoming Think Tank white paper. As Monique reflected, the energy in the room made it clear that this was not the end of the conversation, but the beginning of the next phase, turning shared insight into collective action.
Celebrating Global Leadership: Global Awards 2025
Each year, eMHIC recognises exceptional contributions to digital mental health through a range of awards, including national, global, and lifetime achievement honours. These awards celebrate leaders who demonstrate meaningful impact, implement solutions at scale, and inspire others through integrity, innovation, and vision.
This year’s honourees included:
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4 Global Impact Awards
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A new AI Innovation in Digital Mental Health Award (Sponsored by Core Solutions)
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23 Country Leadership Excellence Awards spanning Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, England, India, Iraq, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, USA, and Wales
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5 Lifetime Achievement Awards
Spotlight: AI Innovation in Digital Mental Health Award
This inaugural award was founded on a guiding question: as artificial intelligence transforms healthcare, how do we ensure it elevates mental health care in the right way?
Its purpose is to recognise leaders advancing AI in mental health with ethics, inclusivity, and genuine human impact at the core. AI holds extraordinary promise to address global challenges, from limited access and workforce shortages to earlier intervention and personalised care, but its success depends on design, deployment, and ensuring it strengthens rather than replaces human connection.
The award shines a light on innovators who ask not only, what can AI do, but how can AI serve. By honouring these leaders, eMHIC and Core Solutions aim to set a new global standard for responsible AI in mental health.
Leadership Excellence Across the Globe
Recipients of the Digital Mental Health Leadership Excellence Awards embody visionary thinking, a heartfelt commitment to equitable outcomes, and a drive to create lasting change. Their personal qualities, including integrity, focus, humility, and infectious enthusiasm, distinguish them as true global changemakers.
Explore the full list of 2025 award winners: eMHIC Hall of Fame
Launching Interconnected: A Milestone for the Field
Another highlight of eMHIC25 was the launch of Interconnected, the world’s first retail magazine dedicated entirely to digital mental health and addiction. Designed to bridge technological innovation with human-centred care, Interconnected reflects three core pillars: redefining accessibility, celebrating global collaboration, and inspiring sustainable investment.
The magazine’s debut marked a significant step in globalising the narrative of digital mental health and amplifying voices from across regions and disciplines.
Get access to the digital version of Interconnected here.
A big thank you to eMHIC Trailblazer Christel Cherryadi, Founder and CEO of Creart Digital Media, for this video capturing the experience of flipping through the very first digital mental health magazine!
Extending the Impact: The eMHIC On-Demand Congress Library
Recognising that collaboration does not end when the Congress doors close, eMHIC has curated every eMHIC25 presentation into a comprehensive On-Demand Congress Library.
Featuring the full three-day programme across six streams with captions, AI-generated transcripts, and in-video search, the library maximises accessibility and long-term value for:
- All eMHIC25 attendees
- eMHIC Strategic Partners
- eMHIC Trailblazer Members
It provides an opportunity to revisit discussions, engage fully with content, and continue learning at your own pace.
Voices from eMHIC25: Insights from the Global Community
Perhaps the strongest message to emerge from eMHIC25 was one of collective responsibility and shared optimism. Across testimonials, a consistent theme surfaced: digital mental health is no longer a future promise—it is happening now, and global collaboration is essential to ensure it delivers equitable, ethical, and meaningful impact.
“This is what good looks like in digital health. Not waiting. Deploying solutions now. Focused on people, equity, and outcomes.”
“The Congress reinforced that digital mental health is not a parallel system, but an integral part of an inclusive continuum of care.”
The energy and impact of eMHIC25 were reflected not only in sessions but also in participant perspectives worldwide. Here are just a few, and there are countless more testimonials and reflections shared across social media:
“What an incredible moment this is: the 10th Digital Mental Health Global Congress! A full decade of eMHIC bringing together the world's brightest minds, boldest innovators, and most passionate advocates for mental health. The promise of digital mental health and AI is enormous. The potential is breathtaking, but so are the stakes. The question isn't whether AI will be part of mental health care: it already is. The question is: How do we ensure it enhances human connection rather than replace it? How do we build guardrails that protect privacy, dignity, and equity? These are the conversations that matter.”
“Thank you, Anil Thapliyal, for believing in what Spain can bring to this global transformation. Gratitude to the entire eMHIC community — this week is planting the seeds of the next generation of mental health infrastructure.” The lesson is clear: Digital mental health is not a technology problem. It’s a governance problem. What we build next must ensure interoperability, human oversight, and equity-by-design — or we will keep rebuilding the same broken systems.”
“Attending eMHIC was an exceptional experience for the Human-Nature Counselling Society. The conference brought together global leaders at the forefront of digital mental health, offering a rare opportunity to learn about emerging innovations, research, and implementation models that are shaping the future of mental health care. What stood out most was eMHIC’s ability to bridge visionary thinking with practical, scalable solutions. As an organization delivering nature-based counselling in outdoor environments, it was invaluable to see how digital strategies can complement and extend in-person care, especially during wait periods and between sessions. The connections made were meaningful and aligned with our mission, and we will be actively following up on several promising relationships. I left feeling energized, informed, and inspired by what is possible when innovation, collaboration, and equity are centred in mental health transformation. I would strongly recommend eMHIC to any mental health leader seeking to understand where the field is heading and how to prepare their organization for the future.” These are just a few of the many voices reflecting on eMHIC25. A wealth of testimonials, photos, and stories can be found across social media, capturing the global collaboration, inspiration, and innovation that defined this milestone Congress."
What Comes Next
Every eMHIC25 presentation has been captured, and a comprehensive Congress Report is in development. To ensure the report does justice to the depth of insights, frameworks, action plans, and strategic learnings shared, this overview has intentionally avoided highlighting specific sessions or takeaways. Full details, including executive summaries, practical tools, and shareable learnings, will be released shortly.
In the meantime, momentum continues through the eMHIC On-Demand Library, global follow-up collaborations, and an ever-growing community committed to advancing digital mental health worldwide.
As eMHIC founder Anil Thapliyal often reminds us:
“One world, one family, one future.”
eMHIC25 may have concluded, but the work it ignited is only just beginning.
