Tech Evolving to Improve Mental Health
Tech touches many aspects of our lives every day. Since COVID-19 hit, it has become a necessity, especially in ways related to health. There are a number of ways in which technology is already involved in helping to monitor physical health.
Dexcom, for example, is a groundbreaking glucose monitor that continuously monitors glucose levels. The device also transmits the results to your smart devices – all without pricking your finger.
But now there is a variety of new and emerging tech on the horizon to help with your mental health as well.
Wearables for Health
We know that there are a number of wearables in the market, including the Apple Watch, which can monitor steps, heart rate, and now even blood oxygen levels.
A company called Sensio Solutions has introduced a bracelet called Feel. This device, lined with monitors, senses emotion and checks emotional signals throughout the day.
With an accompanying app, the Feel bracelet helps with mood tracking. The informational feedback is the educational component to the device. Additionally, users of Feel, can also talk to a therapist who acts as a coach by creating a behavior plan based on the data.
An individual can use the wristband as part of treatment if they are suffering from anxiety and/or depression.
Health Apps
Several apps help with stress by incorporating meditation and deep breathing. Calm and Headspace are two of the more popular apps in the market. Meditation can ease stress and even change the brain when done regularly.
New apps on the horizon are delving deeper into the psyche. Mindstrong is such an app that is being tested by California’s Department of Behavioral Health.
Mindstrong analyzes the way users interact with their phones. The app analyzes how the user scrolls through web pages and even how the user types in order to detect moods. Through machine learning, the platform helps uncover mental health patterns.
Another app, Woebot, uses a cute little robot to guide users through situations using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Woebot engages in uplifting conversations and can even be sympathetic.
Between COVID and other stressors such as maintaining a work-life balance, mental health issues are on the rise. As such, software developers are focused on creating technology that can help improve or manage your mental health.
While tech does not take the place of professional care, it certainly can complement traditional methods.
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