Exploring Privacy in Digital Mental Health: User and Psychotherapist Perspectives

The rapid adoption of psychological consultation applications in Saudi Arabia has created both opportunities for accessible mental health support and challenges related to data privacy and security. Through 13 semi-structured interviews with users and psychotherapists, this study explores privacy behaviors, concerns, and protective practices regarding psychological consultation applications. The findings reveal that most users have limited concern for privacy when engaging with psychological applications, largely placing their trust in the platforms because of their perceived legitimacy and official approval. Users also rarely read privacy policies and typically relied on basic protective measures, such as using strong passwords, to safeguard their personal information. Psychotherapists emphasized adherence to professional integrity, ethical guidelines, and regulatory requirements. The findings from this study highlight the importance of raising user awareness about privacy policies, enhancing regulatory frameworks for digital health platforms, and integrating cybersecurity best practices. Such measures are critical for ensuring the long-term sustainability of digital mental health services.