American society has become a real stress ball. But from our shared mental struggles, one healthy side effect has emerged: it’s become more and more okay to recognize, seek help for, and talk honestly about our mental health. Thus marks the beginning of mental health apps in our world.
Keeping therapy a secret is no longer a necessity. That’s the good news. The bad news is, therapy is expensive and hard to find, especially without health insurance. Even the well-insured can struggle to find a professional who’s taking new patients, accepts their plan, and is a good fit.
Technology to the rescue with mental health apps
As with so many things, technology has stepped up to help out. Apps that promise to boost mental health have become big money in the tech world. In fact, Med City News reports that there are between 10,000 and 20,000 mental health and wellness apps available daily. In most cases, these apps are significantly cheaper than therapy. So, understandably, millions are giving them a try. But not all the apps are backed by evidence, and it can be hard to sift out the good ones from the bad.
Are mental health apps good for mental health?
If you’re one of the almost 36% of Americans who report symptoms of anxiety or depression, you might be searching for a mental health app to provide some relief.
But are these apps all they’re cracked up to be? A December 2022 study by JAMA Network Open (JAMA), reported by Forbes, provides insight. Using the American Psychiatric Association’s data, JAMA rated 578 mental health apps across 105 dimensions.
What the researchers found
JAMA’s research showed that innovation, evidence-based interventions, and – scarily enough – privacy control are in short supply when it comes to mental health apps.
Researchers found that most advice from these apps is not based on clinical evidence, and only 15% of the apps successfully demonstrated their efficacy or feasibility.
Also, most of the apps were strikingly similar, offering education, goal setting, and standard advice. They employed user surveys, diary entries, and microphones to get information from users. Some apps also included mood and symptom tracking, journaling, and deep breathing.
Most feedback to users was provided as notifications, data summaries, and information resources. Fifteen percent of the apps collected passive data like biofeedback (step counts, heart rates, etc.) or geolocation.
The JAMA report lamented “missed opportunities” with this cookie-cutter approach, pointing out that many who struggle with their mental health will not find help on a structured app.
Who are mental health apps best for?
These standard mental wellness apps perform best for people with more manageable symptoms, but very few apps are available for people with serious mental illness. Ideally, mental health apps can teach and reinforce new skills, like deep breathing, which can lower anxiety. And because physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression, apps for tracking physical activity goals can also be helpful.
Look before you load!
If you’re suffering from an acute mental health problem, the urge to get quick help can be overwhelming – especially if the answer seems as easy and relatively cheap as downloading an app.
But not so fast. Professionals also have the following concerns about mental health apps:
- Lack of regulation. The US Food and Drug Administration does NOT regulate most mental health apps. This has led to some apps making unproven marketing claims or offering inaccurate and potentially harmful information. Also, not all apps must conform to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which governs the privacy of a patient’s health records.
- Lack of unbiased research. Much of the existing research provided on mental health apps is conducted internally by companies rather than by objective outside groups.
- The potential for inaccuracy, such as incorrect or outdated suicide hotline phone numbers.
- A false sense of security. The most popular apps are not necessarily safer or more effective than less popular ones, so it’s just best to decide which app is a good fit for you, personally.
Are mental health applications private?
Privacy is another major concern, and with good reason: The same JAMA study found that while 77% of apps had privacy policies, most were written at above a 12th-grade reading level, which users at lower levels might struggle to understand. Also, many privacy policies were provided only after users had entered data.
Perhaps even more concerning, researchers found that 44% of the mental health apps they evaluated shared users’ personal health information with third parties. To see if your chosen mental health app made the list, visit mindapps.org. There are at least 600 mental health apps on this website, rated on cost, features, privacy, and clinical evidence, and updated every six months.
Mental health apps and your business
In a tech world, seeing mental health apps flourish is a beautiful thing. However, it is up to us to make sure the apps we choose are evidence-based, high-quality, and come with adequate privacy policies. For help creating and/or marketing a mental health app for your business, reach out to Watch Media Group here.
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