an article by James Lloyd published in Science Focus from the BBC [via the World of Psychology blog]
When it comes to mental health, smartphones usually get a bad rap – studies have linked their overuse to loneliness, depression and sleep deprivation.
But there’s also a growing well-being movement built around our phones. A search for ‘mental health’ on the App Store or Google Play throws up hundreds of apps geared towards every aspect of our mental health.
There are apps that assess and diagnose our state of mind; apps that allow us to track our feelings and thoughts; apps that provide coping tools such as meditation and cognitive behavioural therapy; and even therapy chatbots.
According to an NHS Digital survey from 2014, around one in six of us experiences depression or an anxiety disorder in any given week. With mental health services increasingly stretched, can these apps provide support to people who are unable to – or don’t want to – access conventional therapies?
Continue reading and discover that the answer is “maybe” but if you don’t try then you will never know. Do please read to the end of the article to understand the constraints of online support.
Labels:
mental_health, online_support, reality_check, smartphones, apps,
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