New Co-Creation Case Study: Exploring Insight to Impact, CAMH-MEMOTEXT Joint Venture in Digital Mental Health
Co-designing care. Scaling impact.
Digital health is reshaping how complex mental illness is approached, our newest case study explores our flagship codesign example in the App4Independence (A4i) — a mobile intervention co-developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and MEMOTEXT Corporation. This collaborative innovation is tackling some of the toughest challenges in schizophrenia-spectrum care and addictions with lessons that extend across the digital health landscape.
Closing Critical Care Gaps
Schizophrenia and severe mental illness (SMI) care is marked by high relapse rates, fragmented community support, and low treatment adherence – factors that often lead to repeated hospitalizations and reduced quality of life. In Canada alone, schizophrenia-related costs exceed CAD 6.85 billion annually. Despite these challenges, digital health solutions for schizophrenia have historically lagged behind those for depression or anxiety.
A4i changes this equation. Designed with – and for – patients it offers:
- Personalized content feeds and daily check-ins
- Medication and appointment reminders
- A patented ambient sound detector to help distinguish hallucinations from real sounds
- Peer-to-peer support networks
- Clinician dashboards for remote monitoring and care coordination
By integrating these features, A4i bridges the gap between clinical care and daily life, empowering patients while supporting providers.
The Power of Co-Design
A4i’s development journey is as important as its outcomes. Through an iterative co-design process, patients, caregivers, and clinicians contributed to every stage – from paper sketches to high-fidelity prototypes. This approach ensured that the platform addressed real-world barriers like usability, autonomy, and workflow integration.
The collaboration between CAMH’s clinical expertise and MEMOTEXT’s digital engagement technology set a new precedent: when healthcare and technology work hand-in-hand, solutions become not just innovative, but scalable and sustainable.
Evidence of Impact
A4i has undergone feasibility studies, pilots. and randomized controlled trials across Canada and the U.S. Results consistently show high engagement, improved treatment adherence, and enhanced quality of life. At Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health in California, for example, peer-led implementation led to an 84% retention rate and significant improvements in personal relationships and mental health satisfaction.
Looking Ahead
A4i’s framework is already being adapted for other high-need populations, including opioid use disorder, and is laying the groundwork for AI-driven personalization in mental health care. With new pilots launching globally, A4i continues to evolve as a model for digital health innovation – one rooted in co-creation, compassion, and impact.
The A4i story proves that when patients, clinicians, and technologists design together, digital health moves from insight to impact.
Read the full case study here to dive deeper into the collaboration, outcomes, and future directions of A4i.