By: Carter Cox
The article I read this week talked about if mobile health apps were a viable source for mental health information, particularly depression. First of all, the article began with addressing the opportunities that mobile health brings. With the current state of mobile technology, users have access to an unlimited source of information. More specifically, they now provide an unprecedented amount of access to physical or mental health information.
According to the article, depression is the “most prevalent” mental health disorder in both high and middle-income areas. To summarize from the article, there are many barriers that people face when attempting to deal with depression. Those suffering from depression often times do not they think their symptoms are “serious” enough to be reported. Patients also might prefer to seek non-professional help, such as counseling from close friends or family.
The introduction of mobile mental health apps gives people with depression the chance to self-report or self-monitor their own behaviors. Some direct benefits that mental health apps could provide are increased awareness of self-perceptions, an emphasis of seeking help, and a general reducing of the stigma surrounding mental health. One specific example from this article is that simply providing easier access to facts about mental health can help patients feel better about their condition. Those suffering from depression might not even be aware of what the basic warning signs or symptoms are. By employing a mobile app that simply educates users on the warning signs of depression, patients can find information that can instantly help their situation.
Ultimately, these mental health apps encourage and facilitate information seeking. By increasing knowledge about mental health, patients can figure out quickly if they are experiencing a mental health disorder. It really comes down to the idea that you can only solve a problem once you acknowledge the problem exists.
I personally think mental health apps are a great advancement in mobile health technology. Mental health is a complex topic. People know when something is wrong with their mental health, sometimes they just do not know what exactly the problem is. By prioritizing easy access to mental health information, mental health applications can greatly improve diagnoses and fight back against stigmas. Mental health scares people. People often experience periods of mental distress, but they feel ashamed or too embarrassed to seek help. Offering a low-stress solution like mental health applications promotes the idea that mental health is serious. The implementation of this technology can drastically improve the quality of some lives. It can even save some lives. In the end, I believe that any mobile technological advancement that improves the wellbeing of others is worth the time and resources.
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