Mental health is at the forefront of society more than ever today. Most of us battle stress daily, including at home and work. The stigma of admitting to feeling anxious or depressed has lessened somewhat, but many people still struggle to receive adequate care and treatment. With our lives becoming more and more digital, apps enter the chat. Mental health apps are a dime a dozen.

I read this article in The Guardian last month and it hit so many different notes for me. I hit the ‘Are these apps doing more harm than good?’ point in January and found myself researching the monetising of mental health. The big one at the moment is BetterHelp.com – I know many people find it useful. However, the aggressive marketing is off-putting to me. Every single podcast I listen to is sponsored by BetterHelp. They’re all over the web – are they that committed to helping people or is something in it for them?

What are the benefits of mental health apps?

The obvious ones are cost-effectiveness and lack of wait times. Downloading an app takes a few seconds, and the apps are cheaper and more accessible than in-person therapy. It can also be less daunting to use an app to address mental health than talking to someone directly. People may feel more comfortable with the idea of therapy if it comes with a veil of confidentiality. Wellbeing apps can supplement in-person therapy and help users feel more comfortable between sessions.

What are the drawbacks of mental health apps?

• Lack of research in some therapeutic methods
• Subscription models,
• Pushing people to self-diagnose
• Ineffective support.
• Privacy concerns over data use

I downloaded a prompt journal app that I found helpful, but I can’t tell you when I last opened it. I hit the paywall and felt frustrated. Each prompt comes with a guide on how to answer it, and I needed a paid subscription to read it. And while I could have paid the money, I knew it would be a waste. Once I am done writing this post, I am going to delete it because it went from being helpful to something that was adding to my stress. Some app creators will provide access to those who can not afford it, but that comes with issues of its own.

And there is the rub. Most of these apps are unregulated and can offer incorrect or unhelpful information to users. Some have been found to sell user data without disclosing it, and some are not beneficial to users.

What’s the big deal?

“I think the biggest risk is that a lot of the apps may be wasting people’s time and causing delays to get effective care.”

Dr John Torous, director of the digital psychiatry division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School

Simply put – time is our most precious commodity and we may be wasting it on these apps.

However, well-being/mental health apps can provide some relief and encourage people to seek out professionals. Users should do their due diligence and make sure any services they use are not looking to exploit them. Governments and health bodies should provide regulatory services focusing on making sure the apps are beneficial for society.

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Sources:

Is a mobile app as good as a therapist?

Mental health apps

‘They thought they were doing good but it made people worse’: why mental health apps are under scrutiny