Mobile mental health monitoring has become more popular in recent years thanks to the rise of wearable technology and smartphone use. It’s also become more accepted by mental health professionals. Last year the National Health Service in the UK launched a curated library of approved apps for monitoring and addressing mental health issues [1]. Additionally, the NHS is considering using phones and activity trackers to help ease the strain on primary healthcare providers. With acceptance of mobile apps growing daily in the healthcare community, it’s clear that the next step in understanding mental health will be found on a smartphone or wearable device.
The Benefits of Mobile Mental Health Monitoring
Wearable and mobile devices can help a user reduce their stress levels, adjust their mood, and make a positive impact on their mental health. They can also be used by physicians and mental health professionals to assist users with their needs. For example, a patient wearing a monitoring device is collecting a wealth of data that can be analyzed and interpreted by a healthcare professional. With this collected data, they can provide patients with the right resources to meet their needs.
Meeting Healthcare Challenges Head on With Mobile Mental Health Monitoring
Mental health care remains a challenge around the world. Even in the wealthiest of countries, statistics show that for every 11,640 people, there is one practicing psychiatrist [2]. These numbers are even more dire in poorer countries. However, advancements in technology and the rise of smartphones and wearable devices are beginning to provide unprecedented solutions to combat these issues.
Mobile mental health monitoring is putting the power in the hands of device users, allowing them to collect information pertaining to their mental state. With this information, users are empowered to identify specific trends in their lives that may be impacting their mental health, and are able to adjust their routines accordingly. With wait lists to see mental health professionals growing longer by the day, the opportunity to self-engage and monitor one’s own mental health is an appealing alternative to many.
NeuroSky Provides Practical Tools for Mobile Mental Health Monitoring
One of the largest challenges for mobile mental health monitoring is ensuring users can understand the data they are collecting via their wearable devices. This is where NeuroSky’s ECG CardioChip comes into play. The ECG CardioChip is an easily integrated biosensor that can adapt to use in your wearable device. It contains NeuroSky’s portfolio of powerful and insightful biometric algorithms that provide users with valuable, easy-to-interpret information related to:
- Stress
- Temperament
- Heart rate
- Heart rate variability
- Heart age
- Fatigue
- Mood
- And more!
With this information, wearable device users can begin to understand aspects of their mental health, and more importantly, begin to make real, practical changes to improve their overall quality of life.
Ensure You’re a Leader in the Mobile Mental Health World
Mobile apps and wearable devices are on the verge of completely revolutionizing the healthcare industry. With NeuroSky’s powerful ECG CardioChip and it’s extensive algorithms, your next device has the potential to lead the charge toward substantially shifting the way we discuss and treat mental health. It you’re looking for more information on mobile mental health, or are interested in NeuroSky’s leading biosensor technology, contact us today.
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[1] – http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/online-mental-health-services/Pages/introduction.aspx
[2] – How technology could help monitor and treat mental health conditions, https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/aug/12/technology-treat-mental-health-conditions
