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Today’s mental healthcare system is at capacity. According to the American Psychological Association, almost 50 percent of mental health providers cannot meet the demands for treatment in the last several years. It presents both a challenge to increase access to care as well as a unique opportunity to leverage technology as a tool to accomplish that goal.
There is a long-standing discussion about the role technology plays in mental wellness. Studies have shown a correlation between excessive social media usage and heightened feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. In fact, at least six out of ten Americans say social media use has a negative impact on their mental health.
With those kinds of statistics, can app-based technology play a positive role in our lives? When technology is leveraged in the right way, the answer is absolutely yes.
Putting Mental Health Tools in Users’ Pockets
An essential takeaway that social media offers is the importance of engagement. These popular apps grab attention and build the scrolling habit. When we bring that same sense of engagement to a more positive user experience, there is incredible potential to apply that solution to healthcare. It’s a hypothesis that we tested and proved with Sober Sidekick.
In traditional care methods, individuals might struggle to maintain their commitment and motivation throughout the treatment and recovery journey. These experiences can be incredibly isolating as well. By inserting science-backed mental health tools into the technology people use daily, we can foster continuous support and help build positive behavioral changes.
From managing anxiety to reducing drinking habits, app-based behavior health can meet individuals where they are and help them access coping tools sooner. These digital spaces can also become a place to connect, allowing someone along their recovery journey to find some support for themselves but also be there for other people.
Leveraging Data for Tailored Care, Anywhere
It can also give individuals personalized, real-time support between appointments if they are working with a counselor. Or it can provide a safe, non-judgmental space for someone just dipping their toe into mental health care for the first time. Wherever someone falls on the spectrum, technology-based mental healthcare can empower users to take control over their mental health and recovery journey.
Just like a therapist would tailor a counseling session to their patient’s needs, we can also harness the power of data to offer that same personalized care in an app-based solution. User input and data can drive more effective care and help us understand the effectiveness of certain interventions or evidence-based practices.
Technology has the potential to change mental health care for the better. But it requires intentional design, engagement, and data-driven approaches that empower users to be proactive in their care and recovery in daily life. Creating a space where it’s safe for a user to be honest and real means they are more likely to get the help they need. And today’s technology allows that space to exist within an app.
Learn more about how Sober Sidekick supports users on their individual recovery journeys through connection and technology-backed tools at www.sobersidekick.com.
