Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Apple’s App Store, Wysa, an AI chatbot that guides users through treatment and journaling, may seem like a good choice for people who are feeling depressed or anxious. I don’t know. Another of her apps, Calm, focuses on guided meditations to promote stress reduction and improved sleep. With over 150 million downloads.
Mental health apps, from self-help mood trackers to programs that arrange remote counseling sessions, are coming online despite a growing shortage of counselors as many experts say the mental health crisis is worsening. It’s full of.
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Online clients have a variety of options available to them. A common example is mood tracking programs such as his Daylio, which helps users record their emotions. Mindfulness apps like Headspace focus on meditation and stress reduction. Woebot Health uses AI to mimic treatments. TalkLife and 7 Cups tout community support. Services like BetterHelp and Talkspace connect users with professional therapists.
Prices vary widely. Apple devices offer a free mental health app with basic services. BetterHelp subscription fees range from $65 to $90 per week for access to a counselor. An annual membership to Calm costs about $70. Woebot is free, but can only be accessed using a code given to you by a spirit provider or agency affiliated with the company.
crisis
So how can apps compete with human counselors?
First, they are available 24/7, which is a boon for the understaffed mental health profession.
“As the workforce shrinks, the need for mental health services continues to grow,” said Debra Wentz, president of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, adding that new mental health programs are “valuable.” ” he said.
Low reimbursement rates, low retention rates due to stigma, increased demand, and an aging workforce are some of the reasons therapists have been out of the field since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the same time, a recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that 52% of psychologists said their patients’ symptoms were increasing in severity. 41% of members noted an increase in the number of sessions spent treating each patient, reducing their ability to accept new clients.
Sarabjit Singh, director of behavioral health services at Prime Healthcare hospitals in Morris, Passaic and Essex counties, said the search for solutions has become even more urgent as professionals have left the field over the past six months. He said it had become.
Supplement to face-to-face care
There is no doubt that apps will play an increasing role in access to healthcare. But researchers urge caution. Studies from Harvard Health and the peer-reviewed journal mHealth have found that mental health apps have limited effectiveness. While these offer benefits such as symptom tracking and convenience, they should complement, rather than replace, traditional treatments., experts say.
“People with severe mental illness or serious problems with substance abuse need a licensed and experienced practitioner,” Wentz says.
She added that this distinction is very important because there are a lot of apps out there that vary widely in quality.
“It certainly changed the whole environment and mindset,” she said. Wentz noted that the shift to technical counseling is occurring as changes in the work environment increase feelings of isolation among Americans.
Apps could be good for reminding people to do things to improve their mood, like tracking their emotions or getting more sleep. But Wentz is skeptical that they will work when bigger problems arise.
Shin agreed. Mental health apps are not a replacement for a therapist. Relationships are very important, he said.
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BetterHelp did not respond to a request for comment, but said it has 30,000 qualified counselors available. Singh isn’t sure whether these apps introduce new therapists into the system, but they may at least help connect supply and demand.
“I think it can only help if you do it the right way,” he said. ”Most mental health professionals actually live on the West Coast and East Coast. But there are so many people suffering in the midst of it, and we don’t have the resources for them. ”
Track mental health symptoms in real time
Singh, who teaches medical trainees and mentors the next generation of mental health professionals, is also excited about the app’s ability to address one of therapy’s classic weaknesses: unreliable self-reporting. I am.
Recall bias (the inability to remember clearly how one felt in the past) can impede treatment attempts. It can be difficult to triage problems when thoughts like “I feel better today, so yesterday must not have been so bad” get in the way. The app tracks symptoms and behavior in real time, giving you a more accurate picture of someone’s health.
“The app improves self-reporting and is useful in clinical practice,” Singh said. “Without technology, patient reports can be biased by their mood at the time.”
The program can also help set goals and track progress, and teach people about psychology in the process, Singh added. He looks forward to seeing how further use of artificial intelligence will increase the effectiveness of online tools. It’s already more responsive than apps like Mindfulness and Health, trackers that come natively on Apple Watches, phones, and iPads., This allows users to record basic reactions regarding their mood.
Researchers found ‘moderate level of effectiveness’
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in November appears to justify Singh’s optimism. “App-Based Interventions for Moderate to Severe Depression” focuses on his 13 studies that evaluated his 16 apps used by approximately 1,500 participants with moderate to severe depression. I’m guessing.
Researchers found the app had “moderate efficacy.” In other words, they were helpful, but not a panacea. These made access to support easier, but were more effective for people with minor problems who had not yet received treatment.
These apps helped me identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors and build coping skills. However, it was less effective for long-term problems such as severe depression.
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How to choose a mental health app
Wentz said this is still an “evolving” field. Don’t consider these apps a panacea. She cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about effectiveness. Still, experts offer the following guidelines:
- UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine advises looking for apps that are developed with input from mental health experts and approved by an impartial third party, rather than user testimonials. doing. Be wary of apps that start with a free trial and automatically transition to a paid subscription, or that require payment information up front.
- When it comes to apps that offer virtual therapy sessions, Wentz said they need to make sure the counselor is licensed to practice in that field. According to the OpenCounseling blog, the easiest way to do this is to search online. In addition, his website for licensing boards usually has a search page.
- If you have serious concerns, such as self-harm, seek professional help. Apps should not be seen as a substitute for professional care if your mood is unstable or your relationships are seriously compromised, Singh said, adding that such issues may require professional face-to-face counseling. He added that it may be a sign of gender.
- He added that mental health apps “should be limited to adults for the time being. From a normal developmental perspective, children may become emotionally unstable or misunderstand the content of apps.” Because…on the other hand,” “Because that’s the way they approach it. But teenage issues are very difficult.”
Jean Myers covers disability and mental health for NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network. For unlimited access to the most important news from our local community. Subscribe or activate your digital account now.
Email: myers@northjersey.com
twitter: @myersgene