ONC challenge spotlights behavioral health

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s (ONC’s) latest innovation challenge seeks to empower individuals to manage their mental health and substance abuse issues through innovative technologies.

In collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, ONC’s Behavioral Health Patient Empowerment Challenge encourages developers to submit innovative applications that use evidence-based strategies and that must be available to consumers on a widely-used platform for mobile devices by the Sept. 3 submission date, according to an announcement.

“To be clear, we are interested only in applications that are currently available, and this can include websites optimized for mobile devices,” Adam Wong, management and program analyst, ONC, reiterated on the agency’s website.

The challenge is taking place in conjunction with the Technology Innovations for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Conference scheduled on Sept. 16 at the White House. The three top finishers will be invited to the conference and the winner will receive an opportunity to present their innovation.

For more information, including submission requirements, go here.