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How to Seek Digital Mental Health Treatment

How to Seek Digital Mental Health Treatment

Image | Pixabay.com

It is a well-known fact that a large number of Americans require mental health care. However, studies have shown that around 35% of the country’s adult population cannot access appropriate treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this problem.

Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, people can be proactive when they require professional support and treatment. For example, you can now communicate with your healthcare provider over the internet and on your mobile device.

What are the benefits of using mental health apps?

It is vitally important that people take their mental health seriously. In fact, if left unchecked, you may begin to experience the following symptoms:

According to this article, you could also suffer from physical symptoms such as a cold, a cough, or the flu.

Nowadays, mental health apps are regarded as simple but effective healthcare tools. For instance, a short telephone call or text message can immediately connect a user to a doctor or medical center. These apps can also use the sensors on a mobile device to gather details about a user’s normal mental health status. Medical professionals will then receive these triggers which will enable them to avert any potential crises for the patient.

Some of the benefits of using mental health apps include:

Are there any disadvantages to using mental health apps?

Despite the many benefits that accrue from using a mental health app, there are still some disadvantages that developers are focusing on, including:

What are the current trends?

App builders and healthcare professionals are combining their skills and energy to develop technologies that can address various mental health issues.

  1. Self-managing apps

Self-managing apps enable users to input their details and then the software will provide feedback. For instance, you can:

  1. Cognitive skills improvement apps

People with serious mental health conditions can use these apps to improve their thinking skills.

  1. Training skills apps

These apps will enable you to learn specific coping and thinking skills. For example, you can watch an educational video on anxiety management. You can then choose the best strategy for your circumstances. Furthermore, these apps can track and gauge how you apply your new skills.

  1. Care support and illness management apps

Apps can now help you interact with other human beings and support groups. The software also allows you to send crucial information to your healthcare provider who will then be able to offer the appropriate therapy and guidance.

  1. Passive symptom monitoring apps

Smartphones have inbuilt sensors that apps can use to monitor your:

Before long, apps will be able to analyze any changes to your behavior patterns that may signify the onset of:

Although apps cannot fully replace a well-trained mental health professional, they can alert caregivers if you need additional attention. The primary purpose of most of these apps is to support users with mild to serious mental health problems.

As there are no industry standards to gauge the effectiveness of the various mental health apps on offer, here are some factors to bear in mind:

You may wish to use the app for a few days to help you determine its suitability for your particular mental health condition.

Conclusion

There are now various apps available that can provide you with mental health advice and therapy. You can also use them to monitor your progress. However, it is clear that virtual and digital care is not suitable for everyone, especially for those patients who need immediate treatment. Nevertheless, these apps do provide users with effortless and affordable care, and they also have the advantage of circumventing the perceived stigma and discrimination often associated with mental health problems.

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