Seeking Digital Health Solutions to Support People with Substance Use and Mental Health Challenges
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The SUMIT project is exploring how digital health technologies could better support people living with substance use and mental health challenges across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The programme aims to support 1,500 people by improving technology-enabled access to care, services and community support.
We are inviting technology companies and innovators to help shape this work and explore opportunities to pilot digital health solutions.
On behalf of its partners, DHI is seeking to identify 3 digital products or services which address key challenges for local services and service users. The total budget is £550,000 and the selected digital health solutions will be active with services until November 2028 and be available for deployment across sites in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
The Challenge
People experiencing substance use and mental health challenges often face barriers in accessing consistent support, navigating services, and maintaining engagement with recovery and wellbeing plans.
Digital technologies may help address some of these challenges by improving how people access information, connect with services and communities, and manage their own care.
The SUMIT project is therefore exploring how digital health solutions could support individuals, families and services across participating regions.
What We’re Looking For
The project intends to identify and ultimately procure three digital health solutions that could be piloted through the SUMIT programme. Early insights from local services and service users suggest potential opportunities in areas such as:
Self-management and wellbeing
Tools that help people access reliable information and local services.
Digital approaches that support self-managed care and wellbeing.
Recovery and care planning
Solutions that help individuals track progress against personal care and wellbeing plans.
Tools that support engagement with multiple health and support services.
Connection and support networks
Platforms that help connect people with peer groups, families and communities.
Tools that improve access to support services, particularly during times of crisis.
These themes are indicative and will be further refined through engagement with industry and stakeholders.
The Opportunity
The SUMIT partners are seeking input from technology companies to help test assumptions, to explore potential solutions that currently meet, or can be adapted to meet our challenges, and inform the development of a formal procurement process. There is significant scope for industry organisations to bring insights and creativity to this process and work collaboratively to address SUMIT key challenges over a 2-year timeline. There is also great potential for transferable digital health products used in other contexts to be introduced effectively into SUMIT.
Industry engagement will help shape the requirements for a tender that is expected to be published in late Spring 2026.
There may be opportunities for:
Existing digital health products to be adapted or applied in this context
New partnerships with health and community organisations
Pilot deployment of digital solutions through the SUMIT programme
Industry Briefing – Invitation to Participate
Technology companies are invited to attend a 90-minute online Breakfast Briefing.
Date: Tuesday 31 March
Time: 8:30am
Format: Online
The session will:
Introduce the SUMIT project
Share early insights from services and service users
Outline potential innovation opportunities
Provide an opportunity for questions and discussion
Feedback gathered will inform the development of the upcoming procurement process.
ABOUT SUMIT
The SUMIT project is a ground-breaking initiative funded by the PEACEPLUS programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Led by Queen’s University Belfast, in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the University of St Andrews, and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).
SUMIT seeks to positively impact people’s lives by improving technology enabled access to care and support for people with substance use and mental health challenges
