We have worked with a group of people with expertise in data science and experience of mental illness to create a best practice checklist that is divided into two components: best practice for mental health data science **today** and best practice for mental health data science **in the future**.
The checklist was created using the Delphi method. This is an iterative method in which a group of experts works together to crystalise their knowledge. A paper which describes the checklist's methodology in detail is currently in progress.
Our aim is that researchers working today will consider each item on the **today** checklist and put measures in place to meet these best practice criteria. The **future** checklist items represent what we as a research community should strive towards as our field develops.
See https://mhdss.ac.uk/best-practice-mental-health-data-science for further information.
