Technology Helps Break Down Barriers to Mental Health Support
Although most people see a role of technology in supporting our mental health, there are still reservations.
And I can see why people might feel nervous about recommending technology to help someone’s emotional wellbeing.
It’s important to remember here that technology is a means and not an end. It simply breaks down some of the barriers in the way of people accessing support.
It’s also important to remember that digital will never replace face-to-face services. I argue that apps and online counselling services — and intelligent bots taught by practitioners using best practice methods — have a big role in complementing in-person therapy and as part of a joined up service, connected to the wider health and social care system.
While either may be used exclusively, they play an important preventative and complementary role to mental health services. As an example, we may be counselling someone through our mental health app who is working towards seeing their GP to ask for face-to-face support. It’s also not uncommon for us to work with those on NHS waiting lists and those who need support between appointments.
This works because often face-to-face services operate during traditional working hours and have fixed appointment times. Technology, however, increases the likelihood that people get help when they need it.
Essentially, all the help we can offer, with as many different approaches and points of access as possible, is all to the good.
The important caveat here when we’re talking about apps is that they are properly reviewed and accredited. Many aren’t. Apps need the correct level of clinical involvement and independent scrutiny so that we know they’re offering the right support and that they are safe.
Ultimately, it’s clear to me that we will never meet the demand for mental health support without digital services which can scale. With rising demand, there just isn’t enough resource to make it a reality.
Elaine Bousfield, founder and chair, XenZone
