Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a discussion between people who use crisis services and academics about the development of a mental health digital technology app. Design/methodology/approach: The approach is underpinned by participatory methods that centralise the voice of lived experience in the development or delivery of mental health responses. Findings: The people who contributed to the conversation identified that the app may reflect a recovery approach to mental health whilst also supporting self-management. The app design was a central repository with links to other apps for self-monitoring or interventions. Originality/value: The app was designed with people with lived experience with an explicit aim to understand what people with lived experience would want from a mental health digital technology.