Co-creating Norwegian DigiPer: a digital tool including peer support for managing mental, physical, and social health in serious mental illness

Background People with serious mental illness (SMI) often encounter physical health issues, a lack of focus on self-management, and persistent symptoms of mental illness. Strategies to empower people with SMI to self-manage their mental, physical, and social health are needed. The PeerTECH application is an American digital peer support intervention that can help manage health issues and promote self-management skills for people with SMI. This study aims to co-create a Norwegian version of PeerTECH, DigiPer, with service users, peer support workers, and professionals from Norwegian community mental healthcare. Methods This study employs a qualitative design using principles of co-creation to develop the Norwegian DigiPer. We conducted workshops, videoconference demonstrations, and application testing with key stakeholders in the co-creation process. The data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Five themes and ten subthemes were developed in the data analysis. The first theme reflected feedback and challenges in DigiPer functioning, with the subthemes of Usability in DigiPer and Managing complexity in DigiPer classes. The second theme focused on the peer support worker's role, with subthemes of recognizing and addressing user challenges and balancing self-responsibility and support. The third theme focused on the content of DigiPer in addressing day-to-day challenges, with subthemes of supporting personal growth and goal setting and DigiPer as a tool to build supportive networks . The fourth theme highlighted the use of DigiPer to encourage a healthy lifestyle, with subthemes of addressing substance use and smoking habits and improving sleep and stress management. The fifth theme provided a holistic view of health, with subthemes of connecting users to relevant services and a need for support to overcome financial challenges. Conclusions DigiPer has good usability among community mental healthcare stakeholders and has proper functionality, which is relevant to the Norwegian context. Although challenges exist, all participants perceived DigiPer as a meaningful and promising tool to help people with SMI improve their self-management of their mental, physical, and social health. Future studies should assess the accessibility and feasibility of the Norwegian DigiPer.