A serene waterfall, pictured against a gentle, flowing soundscape of nature at its most peaceful … likely you’ve seen the ad. It’s for Calm, a mobile app that promises to help improve health and happiness, right where you are and whenever you need it.
All that amidst a countdown clock ticking off the seconds until the spot expires.
Almost comes across like pressure in itself; but, it’s free to try, so why not, right?
Depends on a lot of things, actually. Not all mobile apps for mental health are created equal. And there are a lot of them out there. More than 10,000 are currently available. So, it’s fair to ask, does an app like Headspace, a meditation platform used by more than 70 million people, really keep the promises it makes?
Won’t Keep the Doctor Away
Unfortunately, that app may not be all that. Randomized trials with more than 50,000 patients have proven unable to substantiate any significant improvement in terms of depression, addiction, or anxiety. And yet, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests “treatments work when we believe in them.” The upside comes in the process of doing, more so, than in any particular function on a mobile app.
Compellingly, there is a correlation between what mobile apps can do in complementing an existing relationship with a therapist. True progress is best and most often made by sharing thoughts and feelings directly with a chosen practitioner. Relying solely on an app takes that interaction out of the equation, but using one as tool to reinforce practices apart from an in-person or telehealth session really does add up.
What to Look For and Look Out For
Everyone goes through rough patches from time-to-time. Mostly, they come and go without harm or the need for outside help. That said, if a cause for concern starts to become one for alarm, it’s reasonable to think about trying out a mobile app. However, not at the price of your personal privacy.
For example, a disturbing number of mobile apps for mental health care fail to adequately disclose their privacy policies. Just as importantly, many users experience delays in receiving care, which can be especially worrisome for those harboring thoughts of violence or suicide. In any event, there is no substitute for a board-certified psychiatrist or behavioral counselor who knows what to do when life starts to get the best of you.
Closing the Distance between Patients and Providers
Many in general/adult psychiatry practice have attempted to raise awareness about the fairly large gap between the standard of mental health care needed by patients and that which has typically been delivered, especially for underserved populations and people living in remote communities.
Some see the evolution in mobile apps as part of the answer—supplemented by strong doses of onsite and telehealth capabilities—and powered by one-to-one clinical assessment, psychotherapy, and addiction treatment.
That’s the core of lasting recovery.
Save the ‘app’ for last.