t’s no secret that the mental health of our generation has been deeply affected. In fact, a survey states that 42% of people born between 1990 and 2010
have been diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder. Whether it is anxiety, depression, ADHD, and so on, it’s clear that we have started facing a mental health crisis.
This problem is not new – and clearly, it’s not only an issue for the newest generations. According to research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Hospital, about one in four adults suffers from a mental disorder in a year. And it makes sense! With the fast-paced lifestyle, a growing list of responsibilities that no one really prepares us for, and the constant added pressure of social media, it’s no wonder these issues are on the rise.
But let’s face it – even in 2023, the stigma surrounding mental health is still present
This is how it has always been. Unfortunately, this limited the access of people to seek professional help. Why, you may wonder? It’s easy – since therapy and our well-being have become normalized this century, there were not that many options in the past – especially in underdeveloped countries. This led to long waiting lists, high fees, and just a lack of high-quality help. It left many of us untreated, which for most, further led to even more serious mental health problems.
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However, with the development of technology and the emergence of mental health apps, things have changed!
With features like guided meditation, mood tracking, breathing and cognitive behavioral therapy exercises, and even virtual therapy sessions, we can now monitor our progress, making it easy for us to access the help we need anytime and anywhere. And without the stigma attached to going to therapy.
Take MoodKit, for example! As an app developed by two clinical psychologists, it is renowned for its effectiveness in dealing with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. These trigger episodes can be identified and overcome through the tips and exercises that are at our disposal, most of them being licensed by a professional therapist.
They also offer us the possibility of writing our thoughts down through journaling, which has been proven effective, especially for those with ADHD. Although some of us may think, “Wait, but I can just take a pen and paper, and that’s it, so why would I need an app?”. Well, it’s more than just writing. It’s the idea of always having at our fingertips the ability to calm down without putting in that much effort. And a phone is much more accessible than traditional journaling.
Even more so, MoodKit offers a board of activities that are categorized into five different mood-improvement categories in order to enhance positive emotions by implementing psychological principles and techniques. And the best part? We can track everything! Let’s face it – it feels rewarding to see that we have gotten better and better every day. And it feels even more motivating knowing that even though we might be stumbling across certain obstacles, we can see our progress and that we can always go back up.
So do they actually work?
Mental health apps seem to be effective in managing and treating mental health conditions. In fact, a study conducted by the Journal of Medical Internet Research even found that people who used mental health apps experienced a significant decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and overall well-being.
But unfortunately, they are not the answer!
Sure, these apps can be helpful in empowering us to take control of our mental health and work toward recovery. This could be our start in accepting help into our lives, as many of us are struggling with it. Therapy is not considered a luxury in a lot of countries, but still, there’s a large portion of us, especially young people, that can’t afford professional help. Or we are simply ashamed to seek it. So, these might work as a supplement to traditional therapy. Dr. Stephanie Collier – director of geriatric psychiatry at McLean Hospital – even stated that:
“It could be this opening to thinking about – Maybe I should seek out some more professional help.”
However, the truth is that these apps are not a substitute for professional therapy and can’t replace the human connection and support that comes with it. And it’s extremely difficult to make actual progress in our lives by ourselves, regardless of how advanced the app is or regardless of who has made it. Dr. Collier added:
“These are not stand-alone treatments. But they can be effective when used in tandem with therapy.”
Rather than using it independently, we should be using mental health apps as a means of increasing literacy when it comes to dealing with our issues and learning how to incorporate these exercises into our daily routines. However, the foundation should be built on the conversations that took place with our therapists as the advice and exercises provided by the apps can be quite general. Therefore, these mental health apps might only be at the surface, while the work we do with our therapists is the essential groundwork for better well-being.
Even more so, we must take into account the fact that these apps might not be for everyone.
Count your fingers for every app you downloaded in the heat of the moment when you had a burst of energy but used it for a couple of days and then forgot about it. Yeah, it happened to all of us! Whether it is a fitness app, a meditation app, or for handling our activities/mood when we’re overwhelmed. But the truth is that most of us end up deleting it because it’s not motivating enough for us to actually put in the effort.
This is especially true for those with anxiety and a fear of starting out or those with severe depression who may not have the necessary mental or physical energy to complete the modules on the mobile app. Realistically speaking, although the intention is there, some of us simply can not get ourselves to do the work and work on ourselves. For this reason, for those with serious problems, an app might be ineffective, especially in the long term.
With the increase in the number of people affected by mental health issues, so did the embrace of mental health apps. So, if you’re looking to improve your mental health, this could be a great start. But don’t forget that real progress comes from seeking professional guidance.
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