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The intersection of technology and mental health: enhancing access and care

  • Mohd Altaf Dar , Mudasir Maqbool ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Irfat Ara and Mehrukh Zehravi
Published/Copyright: August 22, 2023
International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
From the journal International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Volume 35 Issue 5

Abstract

In recent times, technology has increasingly become a central force in shaping the landscape of mental health care. The integration of various technological advancements, such as teletherapy, virtual care platforms, mental health apps, and wearable devices, holds great promise in improving access to mental health services and enhancing overall care. Technology’s impact on mental health care is multi-faceted. Teletherapy and virtual care have brought about a revolution in service delivery, eliminating geographical barriers and offering individuals convenient and flexible access to therapy. Mobile mental health apps empower users to monitor their emotional well-being, practice mindfulness, and access self-help resources on the move. Furthermore, wearable devices equipped with biometric data can provide valuable insights into stress levels and sleep patterns, potentially serving as valuable indicators of mental health status. However, integrating technology into mental health care comes with several challenges and ethical considerations. Bridging the digital divide is a concern, as not everyone has equal access to technology or the necessary digital literacy. Ensuring privacy and data security is crucial to safeguard sensitive client information. The rapid proliferation of mental health apps calls for careful assessment and regulation to promote evidence-based practices and ensure the delivery of quality interventions. Looking ahead, it is vital to consider future implications and adopt relevant recommendations to fully harness technology’s potential in mental health care. Continuous research is essential to evaluate the efficacy and safety of digital interventions, fostering collaboration between researchers, mental health professionals, and technology developers. Proper training on ethical technology utilization is necessary for mental health practitioners to maintain therapeutic boundaries while leveraging technological advancements responsibly.

Keywords: technology; mental health; digital revolution; mobile apps
Corresponding author: Mudasir Maqbool, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 191131, India, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

We are sincerely grateful to the authors whose unwavering review articles and invaluable contributions played a pivotal role in successfully completing this review article.

  1. Ethical approval: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.

  5. Research funding: None.

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Received: 2023-08-02
Accepted: 2023-08-13
Published Online: 2023-08-22

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Articles
  3. Digital consumer behaviour: insights into the perceptions of late adolescents’ consumption of digital media on cognitive health
  4. Attitude and practice of secondary school students towards voluntary counselling and testing in Mwanza, North-West Tanzania
  5. Vulnerability analysis of Haitian adolescent girls before pregnancy: a qualitative study
  6. Characteristics of Malaysian 16-year-old girls who reported regular binge eating episodes and the associated risk factors: a descriptive study
  7. Short Communication
  8. The intersection of technology and mental health: enhancing access and care
https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2023-0113
Keywords for this article
technology; mental health; digital revolution; mobile apps

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Articles
  3. Digital consumer behaviour: insights into the perceptions of late adolescents’ consumption of digital media on cognitive health
  4. Attitude and practice of secondary school students towards voluntary counselling and testing in Mwanza, North-West Tanzania
  5. Vulnerability analysis of Haitian adolescent girls before pregnancy: a qualitative study
  6. Characteristics of Malaysian 16-year-old girls who reported regular binge eating episodes and the associated risk factors: a descriptive study
  7. Short Communication
  8. The intersection of technology and mental health: enhancing access and care
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