Mental health challenges are one of the most pressing issues in the United States and affect a vast section of the country’s population. But the positive aspect here is that more patients are gradually voicing their mental health issues and seeking therapy. This not only raises awareness but also helps people to address their concerns, receive the treatment they need, and lead a wholesome life.
According to a CDC 2022 report, the overall percentage of American adults looking for mental health treatment increased to 21.6% in 2021 from 19.2% in 2019. The best part is that healthcare digitization also enhances mental healthcare services. Many innovations are currently reshaping this landscape for improved patient care outcomes. Advanced technology is all set to make mental health care and treatment more affordable, effective, and accessible.
Hence, one can say that the recent tech trends in mental healthcare are all set to add value to therapy practice and counseling. Here, we will delve deep into three crucial trends for the future.
Top 3 Leading Mental Health Tech Innovations & Trends
Today, mobile mental health assistance is gaining momentum. For instance, any person who has a computer or a phone can text, call, or even chat at forums like ‘988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’ almost anytime. Innovative technology can also be packaged in a highly sophisticated app for tablets and smartphones.
These apps use built-in sensors of a device to accumulate data about the usual behavioral patterns of patients. When the app detects any behavioral change, it might alert the need for treatment before any crisis. On the other hand, few apps are solitary programs that have been designed to enhance thinking and memory skills. And a few apps enable people to get connected to healthcare professionals and peer counselors.
From advanced apps to AI-powered diagnostics, mental health technology is here to expand in the years to come like never before. The best three trends to stay clued into are:
Better Monitoring with Advanced Mental Health Apps
Such apps enable users to log in to their emotional states, activities, and trigger points in real time. It comes with features such as mood tracking, along with a statistical analysis that keeps a detailed view of one’s mood and helps in better self-awareness. It also leads to improved mental health management.
The best part of these apps is the push notifications. The app is effective in detecting patterns of increased anxiety and stress and sending alerts for quick meditations, mindfulness activities, and calming breathwork. It helps the patient cope with the situation in real time when they need help the most.
The other striking feature is the ability to securely share the monitored data with healthcare providers. It allows clinicians to create more adaptive and responsive treatment plans. It demonstrates the way mental health technology can lead to improved coordination between professionals and patients.
Furthermore, a few of these apps have specialized features for specific conditions, such as depression and anxiety. All these features can prompt users to stay engaged in certain activities and thoughtful journalling, which makes these technologies targeted and nuanced.
EHR Systems
Today, mental healthcare practitioners are opting for an EHR system for behavioral health, which helps to streamline their practice when the month gets busy with appointments. It is an electronic health record (EHR) that helps in collating and storing every patient’s data. It helps the clinician arrive at better treatment decisions.
According to Grand View Research, the global electronic health record market is estimated to be nearly $38.5 billion by 2030. Hence, it is evident why clinicians and therapists are opting for this technology. Using this, they can offer patients increased personalized care and enhance their quality of life. It helps with session scheduling and interactions on treatment plans and provides security for patient data.
According to Accumedic Computer Systems, in this mobile society, it is easy to collect data through laptops, computers, tablets, and smartphones. The moment a patient is moving to a new place or is unwell at home, this technology helps in having access to their health data and medical history. This technology helps mental health practitioners use the data they need to suggest effective treatment for a patient in real time.
That aside, the leading players in this niche also provide innovative services like attendance-based billing, group scheduling, unit-based billing, and clinical document verification.
Gamification
It is one of the innovative uses of mental health technology. Prescription video games led to the development of gamification of patient treatment plans. A few years ago, the FDA approved a game specially designed for kids between the ages of 8 and 12 suffering from ADHD. This game puts the players on a challenge to concentrate on several tasks, which interestingly target ADHD symptoms.
Such games act as a diagnostic tool and treatment modality that encourages interactive therapy instead of a traditional treatment approach. Most kids today have an affinity for video games, which makes this an effective tool to address mental health concerns in children.
That is not all. These games collect insightful data. It’s a wise idea to analyze gameplay metrics to assess any improvement in the patient. Also, it helps to recognize areas that need increased focus. It provides actionable insights to clinicians for better diagnosis and treatment plans.
Gamification isn’t restricted to treating ADHD. It can also help in treating anxiety, stress, depression, and other similar mental health challenges.
To conclude, the future year holds new advancements for the mental healthcare industry. All the above-mentioned groundbreaking technologies will enable therapists, counselors, and mental health practitioners to address the struggles of patients and provide effective treatments. Even patients have hope for better solutions that help them tackle their mental health issues and lead a balanced life.
