According to a recent report on mental health by the Lancet Commission, mental disorders are on the rise in every country in the world and will cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030. At a time when health crisis has assumed an alarming proportion, the need for mental health therapy has been increasing considerably. However, the existing healthcare system has failed to accommodate the rising need and is looking to technology-mediated mental health applications to help the needs of their patients.
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— The Lancet (@TheLancet) August 14, 2024What are the barriers individuals encounter while going through in-person therapy?
In-person therapy is often very expensive, and individuals face multiple constraints in order to access them. The fees that counselors and psychiatrists charge for each session can be a costly affair without insurance coverage. Again, considering the persistent sessions that can often last up to a few years, finding regular time for these sessions amidst a hectic schedule can be a challenge. Apart from time and financial constraints, geographical backwardness hinders one’s accessibility to qualified therapists. The locational disadvantage is true if one takes a closer look at people residing in rural and remote areas who suffer from mental health issues.
Transportation and accessibility, along with a lack of awareness, pose significant barriers to such places. In addition to the practical barriers, there are a number of social and interpersonal barriers that an individual who is already in need of expert assistance may encounter in the process. Social stigma centering on mental health issues due to inadequate awareness and fear of opening up to an unknown person and triggering oneself all over again can be traumatizing to individuals.
While there are individuals who struggle with mental health issues but are completely unaware of it, encountering one’s vulnerability and facing the issue can even be a daunting task even for mental health-conscious individuals. Moreover, cultural and linguistic hurdles can affect individual’s interaction with their therapists and lack of trust building can further discourage individuals from seeking professional help.
What are the advantages that mental health apps offer over conventional in-person therapy?
Keeping in mind the complexity and distinctiveness of each mental health disorder, various mental health apps have been designed with unique features to cater to the various needs of individuals. The improved design of the mental health apps that are developed after conducting in-depth research and deliberations with key stakeholders often offers certain advantages over traditional in-person therapy. These apps not only offer affordability, as some of their features are free to use, but they also offer wider accessibility. With the wider use of cell phones across the world, the 24*7 availability of applications at the tip of their fingers solves the problem of accessibility and provides anonymity.
The self-paced activities mediated through these user-friendly mental health apps add convenience for users. Moreover, with enhanced privacy features installed in mobile phones, individuals encountering mental health troubles can face it without the apprehension of being stigmatized by society for their vulnerability. The well-designed mental health applications also help therapists in better dealing with secondary trauma due to their repetitive exposure to narratives of primary trauma encountered by individuals who come to seek their help. The sharing of overload of work with the efficient deployment of technology enables them to deal better with work-related stress.
What are the most popular mental health apps?
While there are apps that help address anxiety disorder and associated sleep disorders and track mood, others act as mediators to enable talk therapy to deal with depression and other mental health disorders. Let’s take a look at the most popular ones:
Better Help
The App acts as a mediator that connects professional help seekers online with licensed therapists. The hassle of finding the right therapist and traveling to the place where regular sessions are to be conducted is eliminated with the use of the particular App. By enabling online therapy sessions, the App provides better privacy and thus reduces exposure to social stigma that often deters individuals from seeking expert advice.
Headspace
This App ensures mindfulness training by regulating their schedules and incorporating dedicated meditating hours. By providing curated courses, it enables tracking of moods and ensures trouble free sleep. The platform assists individuals to break free from the negative thought cycle and ensure wellbeing.
I Am Sober
This App helps individuals who suffer from Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and addicts who are unable to free themselves from the negative cycle of drug use. I Am Sober is a free app that allows individuals to track their sober days and enables them to develop new habits. Providing ongoing motivation by connecting you to a wide network of people with the same goal of staying sober at least once for the day helps them in deaddiction.
Calm
: Calm is another such app that tracks one’s mood swings, and sleeping hours and ensures incorporation of meditation in one’s daily routine. To provide them with better regulation of mental health, it integrates mindfulness practices into their daily lives.
My Possible Self
This App helps in better self-monitoring by setting personalised goals and regular targets, enabling better habit tracking to improve one’s mental health. It offers a holistic solution for major mental health issues that plague individuals. It helps in the management of anxiety, tackling depression, easing stress, improving sleep, and contributes to overall physical and mental wellbeing.
Happify
This App inculcates positive thinking among users and helps break free from negativity and stressful thoughts that often trigger individuals. Ensuring a positive thinking pattern uplifts one’s mood and contributes to their happiness. Reframing negative thoughts allows them to experience better concentration and enhanced productivity along with personal fulfillment.
WorryWatch
WorryWatch helps maintain an anxiety journal and enables users to better identify the triggers. This helps individuals to overcome their trauma and feel confident in managing anxiety and stress. Positive affirmations and mood tracking ensure the uplifting of one’s mood and lead a mentally healthy life.
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame is another mental health app that has been specifically designed for kids. This App teaches skills like problem-solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence and enables them to solve everyday challenges. Through enjoyable animations and playful interactions, it helps kids build emotional vocabulary and trains them in breathing techniques, which can promote the healthy development of kids.
NotOk
This App is a free application that functions like a digital panic button that provides immediate support via text, phone call, or GPS location especially at a time when individuals are struggling to reach out. It simplifies the process of asking for help by notifying trusted contacts.
MindShift CBT
This App offers multiple tools and strategies to help users cope with worry, stress, and panic through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. The App is characterised by features like short meditations, thought journals, coping cards, and activities to face fears, change beliefs, and develop healthy habits, among others. Regular use helps improve one’s mental health and enables them to lead a carefree life.
Can Mental Health Apps replace In-person therapy?
The above apps, if used effectively, are proven to have improved one’s mental health conditions. Therefore, leveraging technology in this regard can go a long way in addressing the mental health crisis that has gripped the present world. Whether they will be able to replace in-person therapy in the coming days or not is a question that is better left for time to answer.
FAQ
What has necessitated the use of mental health apps?
According to a recent report on mental health by the Lancet Commission, mental disorders are on the rise in every country in the world and will cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030.. However, the existing healthcare system has failed to accommodate the rising need and is looking to technology-mediated mental health applications to help the needs of their patients.
What are the most popular mental health apps?
Headspace; NotOK; Breath, Think With Seasame; Happify, MindShift CBT, WorryWatch are popular mental health apps.
What are the barriers individuals encounter while going through in-person therapy?
In-person therapy is often very expensive, and individuals face multiple constraints in order to access them. The fees that counselors and psychiatrists charge for each session can be a costly affair without insurance coverage. Again, considering the persistent sessions that can often last up to a few years, finding regular time for these sessions amidst a hectic schedule can be a challenge.
What are the advantages that mental health apps offer over conventional in-person therapy?
Keeping in mind the complexity and distinctiveness of each mental health disorder, various mental health apps have been designed with unique features to cater to the various needs of individuals. The improved design of the mental health apps that are developed after conducting in-depth research and deliberations with key stakeholders often offers certain advantages over traditional in-person therapy. These apps not only offer affordability, as some of their features are free to use, but they also offer wider accessibility.
Can it replace in-person therapy?
The above apps, if used effectively, are proven to have improved one’s mental health conditions. Therefore, leveraging technology in this regard can go a long way in addressing the mental health crisis that has gripped the present world. Whether they will be able to replace in-person therapy in the coming days or not is a question that is better left for time to answer.
