Advancing mental healthcare through IoT and digital technologies: innovations in monitoring, intervention, and support

Mental health shapes emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing stress management, relationships, and decision-making. Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including wearables and mobile applications, enable real-time monitoring and personalized care, improving early intervention and access, particularly in underserved communities. This manuscript examines how integrating IoT technologies, AI-driven analytics, and telemedicine platforms can transform mental healthcare through enhanced personalization, early detection, and expanded service delivery. It addresses adoption barriers, including data privacy risks, ethical concerns, implementation challenges, and interoperability limitations. Emerging trends in IoT and AI are explored for continuous support across conditions such as PTSD, substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline, with comparisons to traditional therapeutic approaches. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 7639 records were identified, 1827 screened, and 335 full texts assessed, resulting in 136 included studies published up to December 2025, with searches updated in January 2026. Studies were categorized by domain and methodology. Findings indicate strong potential for proactive, continuous mental healthcare delivery, with quantitative evidence showing improved outcomes and diagnostic accuracy reaching up to 95% for anxiety and depression. IoT enhances accessibility, personalization, and clinical outcomes; however, challenges remain, including data security, integration complexity, algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, and persistent digital inequities.