Mental Health Services in a Digital World

And During a Worldwide Pandemic

Arianna Huffington, the co-founder of The Huffington Post, once said,

“If you take care of your mind, you take care of the world.”

And yet, although we all know the importance of a relieved and cognitively and emotionally healthy state of mind, throughout history, many little resources within the field of healthcare have been dedicated to mental health. According to the World Health Organization, “one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.” And with the current COVID-19 pandemic in hand, many reports (referenced below) suggest the devastating effects of the decrease in social interactions on people’s mental health, especially teenagers. Hence, it is more important than ever to provide mental health services to the public. Through what medium? Well, Digital Health!

Average Share of Adults Reporting Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder and/or Depressive Disorder — Panchal et al.

First things first:

What is Mental Health?

Mental health is an umbrella term for our emotional, social, and psychological well-being. It is directly correlated with virtually all aspects of one’s behavior, including mood, thinking, and actions. Mental health problems affect not only the individual but also the people that the person interacts with. Thus, maintaining a healthy state of mind is of the interest of a group — i.e., family, school, workplace, etc. — as well as its members.

How can Technology Help?

Digital health can make mental health services more accessible, especially in rural and remote areas and in underdeveloped countries. It also decreases the waiting times, hence resulting in more rapid access. Additionally, technology can provide access to mental health services in many languages, making it more available for the use of people from different races and backgrounds. And, during the current pandemic (and any possible infectious diseases that may emerge in the future), by substituting the in-person component of services with remote ones, digital health decreases the chances of infection.

Technology can also play a significant role in increasing people’s understanding of mental health and its associated disorders. We live in the 21st century, yet many still use terms like “crazy” or “psycho” when talking about people suffering from mental health issues. Therefore, considering the widespread use of technology in the modern world, we can use this as a platform for educating the general public about mental health.

What is Being Done Right Now?

Technology has actually already made its way into the world of mental health. The term “e-Mental Health” refers to the delivery of mental health services through the internet or other forms of technology. Various mental health clinics and companies worldwide have adapted technology-based techniques for the delivery of their services. Here are some of the digital health solutions that are currently being used:

• Online self-help: Includes self-help modules and cognitive behavioral therapy apps
• Crisis support: Includes phone help-lines, text support, and online chat support
• Medical intervention: Includes video-based counseling; telemedicine videoconferences; and text-based counseling, followed by clinical follow-up and referrals
• Peer-led support: Includes online monitoring, peer support apps, social media, chat rooms, instant messaging, gaming
• Coaching: Includes online therapy; video, text, and voice chat

Utilizing digital health platforms to improve the delivery of mental health services can assist many people — specifically tech-savvy teenagers — in overcoming their mental issues. These online platforms can also change the stigma around mental disorders, which many still refer to using the wrong terminology, by increasing the understanding of the general public about mental health. It is now more critical than ever for us not to neglect mental health issues but to conquer them with the help of mental health services and through the means of our good-old-friend — technology.

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References

1. “Delivering Mental Health Services in a Digital World.” Digital Health Canada, https://digitalhealthcanada.com/all-blog-posts/delivering-mental-health-services-in-a-digital-world/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.Panchai, N., Kamal, R., Cox, C., and Garfield, R. “The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use.” Kaiser Family Foundation, https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.
2. “e-Mental Health.” Canada Health Infoway, https://www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/solutions/e-mental-health. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.
3. “E-Mental Health.” Mental Health Commission of Canada, https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/what-we-do/e-mental-health. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.
4. “The World Health Report 2001: Mental Disorders affect one in four people.” WHO, https://www.who.int/news/item/28-09-2001-the-world-health-report-2001-mental-disorders-affect-one-in-four-people#:~:text=One%20in%20four%20people%20in,ill%2Dhealth%20and%20disability%20worldwide. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.
5. “What is Mental Health?” MentalHealth.gov, https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.