How Does Technology Fit into the Future of Mental Health Treatment?
Technology has helped aid and enable workers in nearly every industry to be more productive. One area lacking innovation? Mental healthcare.
Not everyone you see around you on a daily basis is fully mentally fit. In fact, most adults in the United States are battling mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.
Technology is allowing mental health treatment to be more effective than ever before. Nowadays, both cognitive and behavioral therapies are readily available online for anyone to utilize. The question that remains is this: how can technology improve care and patient outcomes even more? (Reference 1)
Mental Health Apps
Experts in the healthcare field believe that technology has incredible potential for both patients and clinicians.
A few of the advantages include:
Introduction
For those who have avoided mental health treatment in the past, virtual assistance could be seen as more appealing.
Interest
The online programs offered may be seen as more interesting and less intimidating than traditional, in-person, services.
Consistency
Online programs are able to offer the same services to everyone.
Convenience
Technology has allowed online treatment to service individuals from anywhere at any time.
Anonymity
Patients are able to seek treatment without involving other people (doctor referrals, family, friends).
Around the clock
Whenever a patient needs help, these apps are able to provide 24/7 support for monitoring and intervention.
Additional support
Online therapies provide an excellent source for supplemental therapy to reinforce any in-person sessions.
Widespread
Whether the patient lives in a remote area or has the inability to travel, mental health technology provides everyone with access to treatment. (Reference 2)
MHT offers patients and clinicians the same, valuable convenience through our cloud-based diagnostic tool when it comes to screening for mental health issues.
Most patients simply do not have the time or focus to complete an assessment within the timeframe given to them prior to their doctor’s appointment. With MHT, we are able to send patients their screening assessment via email or text to provide ample time to complete their tests before they ever see their physician.
Trending Apps
Research and engineering teams have combined their skills to address a variety of mental health concerns.
Some of the most popular areas of interest are:
Self-Management
These apps alert the user based on information that was collected. For example, if the user puts in that they take a certain medication at a particular time of day, the app can alert the user and keep them on track. Some self-management apps are designed to help manage sleep disorders, stress, and anxiety.
Thinking Skills
Designed for cognitive remediation, these apps have a very promising future. These apps tend to help those who have serious mental illnesses as well as those with traumatic brain injury. They can assist with executive functioning, problem-solving, comprehension, memory, and attention.
Skill Training
These types of apps are more gamified compared to other mental health apps on the market. The user may watch a video surrounding certain topics (such as anxiety management), followed by choosing the strategies that they would like to try. The app would then track how often you are using those skills and provide you with valuable feedback.
Passive Symptom Tracking
Much effort is going into developing apps that are able to use data from sensors built into smartphones. These sensors contain the ability to record the user’s movement patterns, social interactions (calls, texts, emails), vocal tone and speed, and various behaviors throughout the day.
Although these types of apps could never replace a trained medical professional, they can serve as a valuable tool that can alert caregivers when an individual is in need of immediate support.
Supported Care
Through a supported care app, the user is able to communicate with another human being. Their interaction may be with peer support or with a trained healthcare professional who is able to provide them with guidance and therapy options. Currently, research is determining how much peer-to-peer support is needed in app-based treatments in order to be effective.
Unfortunately, there are no current review boards or rules when it comes to choosing a mental health app best suited for the user. Although most do have peer-reviewed research that supports their claims, it’s unlikely that the majority of apps undergo research trials to test it’s effectiveness prior to hitting the market.
Here are a few suggestions for finding the right app for your needs:
Determine if you would like a completely self-sufficient app or one that offers peer or trained therapist support.
Ask your current, trusted healthcare professional for their recommendation.
Research within the app to see if there are any recommendations for the next steps if symptoms proceed to get worse.
Look to see what type of therapies the app offers, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Search online regarding the app developer. Ensure that their experience and credentials match up to what you are comfortable with.
MHT - Innovating Technology
Here at MHT, we understand that technology is a revolving doorway of untapped potential.
To keep up, our developers work tirelessly to ensure that both client and patient experience is up to date with the latest information that keeps convenience in the forefront, while never sacrificing privacy.
One of our talented customer service representatives would love to give you more information.
Contact us today to get started.
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