Future Mental Health
Eight million adults are expected to suffer mental health problems by 2030. Victoria Lambert looks at how technology might help with treatment in the next five, 10 and 20 years
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) estimates that around six million adults in the UK have mental health problems. That number is anticipated to rise to eight million by 2030. The costs to the NHS, to the economy and to those people destined to languish on waiting lists is impossible to fathom.
So what might the future of mental healthcare look like over the next five, 10 and even 20 years? Can technology save us from crisis?
In five years
Over the next five years we will still be on a journey to eliminate stigma. According to consultant psychiatrist Dr Rafael Euba from the London Psychiatry Centre, “With one-in-four women and one-in-10 men affected by depression, we still need a major change in attitude.
“We need to acknowledge its effect on all of us, either directly or through our loved ones. Mental health is a problem we all have.” Dr Euba maintains that until we acknowledge that, we won’t have won the stigma battle.
An app for that
Professor Dinesh Bhugra, president of the World Psychiatric Association, acknowledges the stigma hurdle. He also sees the role of social media increasing over the next five years, with more web- and smartphone-based psychotherapy for those looking for mental health support online.
One such service, which has emerged from clinicians’ desire to make therapy universally available, comes from Minds for Life. The experts behind this counselling app are using technology to deliver support when and where people need it. This comes via video therapy and message exchange through your phone. Professional services, particularly those with a clinical heritage, are expected to play a major role in supporting those experiencing mental ill-health.
But perhaps it’s not only the way therapy is delivered which will change. Professor Bhugra sees one particular therapy gaining wider acceptance: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), which increases the transmission of electrical signals between nerve cells in the brain. rTMS has been approved by NICE since 2015; its role in decreasing depressive symptoms could increase significantly as demand for mental health treatment continues to rise.
In 10 years
By 2027, Dr Euba expects more men to feel able to come forward and admit to concerns about mental health. Elaine Bousfield, co-founder of Minds for Life agrees, citing the potential of gaming as a mechanism to reach young men with undiagnosed issues. With male suicide highest in the UK between the age of 40–44, reaching young men before this age whilst issues are emerging is vital.
Crucially, in the next ten years, Prof Bhugra believes scientists will get to grips with the effect of epigenetics (the study of inheritable genetic qualities) on mental health. It is easy to see how predicting mental health issues could have huge potential in preventing crises.
As well as the emergence of such preventative measures, Prof Bhugra sees a future in better targeted medication. Where understanding the function of the brain better means targeted medication can be administered, with fewer side-effects.
AI grows up
“In ten years’ time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have a huge role to play in early intervention and prevention, in educating people about their own behaviour,” says Bousfield. “What instigates stress and what relieves stress.”
AI is already being explored for its role in suicide prevention: Facebook has developed pattern recognition algorithms to spot users at risk of self-harm which could connect them to mental health services. Meanwhile, doctors at US research hospitals are piloting new, AI-driven suicide-prevention platforms which are focused on being able to intervene and offer early support to those at risk.
In 20 years
It may seem a way off, but technology moves quickly. In twenty years’ time the idea that we can predict behaviours and identify risk will not sound as sci-fi as it might today.
Prof Bhugra believes by then, we will all carry our genome maps on our mobile devices, which will lead to specific interventions. He sees a future where we may be able to rely more on machines and AI in reaching diagnoses and planning therapies.
Virtual therapists Experiments are already underway which use psychological AI to administer personalised psychotherapy in a way we could not have imagined 20 years ago.
Says Bousfield, “In 20 years’ time why wouldn’t we have a hologram therapist, but with access to a ‘real’ human at key moments?”
Making mindshifts
Perhaps the biggest change will be in how mental health services are made available. Instead of operating during a conventional working week, with patients working round therapist’s availability, and health services being available to the patient when, where and how it suits them. It’s difficult to see how digital won’t have a significant role here; technology has huge potential to make mental health services universally accessible, whilst also eliminating stigma and providing early support.
Essential to all these changes will be a shift in mindset, says Aaron Sefi, also from Minds for Life. “The perception of digital and lived experiences being different entities will change,” he explains. “That means support services which aren’t delivered unto a patient, but which can be accessed at different times of day — or [stage] of life — when the user chooses to.”
This signals a major transformation of mental health services. As long as it is done in collaboration with users in a genuine, non-tokenistic way, technology has the power to avert the crisis and help us look forward to a brighter, switched on future.
