Tech for Mental Health

written by Natasha Matta

Technology is changing the mental healthcare landscape, making care more accessible and affordable as well as providing new treatment options and support systems. It has been vital in allowing patients to continue to access care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and stay connected with their support systems. Some promising innovations include:

  • Virtual Reality (VR): Virtual reality can help patients dealing with depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 
  • Telehealth: Telehealth allows patients to access mental health services online, circumventing barriers like location/transportation access and the stigma one may feel when seeking help.
  • Apps: Mobile apps can provide cognitive or dialectical behavior therapy, breathing exercises, guided meditations, and other services to improve wellbeing. 
  • Digital Symptom Tracking: Apps, websites, or other platforms can help people track their symptoms or mood over time.

 Women looking at laptop on bed

Technological advancement better enables personalized mental healthcare. Some platforms are using artificial intelligence (AI) to match patients with providers like therapists or provide suggestions for medication that might work well given a patient’s medical history, symptoms, needs, and wants.


Social media can also be leveraged to raise awareness about mental health and educate the public. It can help one find community and understand that they are not alone in their struggles.


As technology evolves, hopefully, we can continue to bridge gaps in access and innovate new mental healthcare solutions to meet people’s needs. 

 

Women needing mental health

 

Mental Health Resources

  • National Suicide Prevention Hotline (Lifeline): 1-800-273-825 
  • Crisis Text Line: text HELLO to 741741
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): nami.org
  • Mental Health America: mhanational.org

 

Self Care Isn't Selfish

written by Natasha Matta

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