Seeking mental help in a digital era

In this digital era, there are endless possibilities to the apps and services available online, but when it comes to mental health there are several things to consider before opening up.

According to Emergence Health Network, one in four adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year and 90% of people who die by suicide, are also believed to have had a mental health disorder.

“This needs to change and that is why Emergence Health Network has launched the Mental Health and You mobile application,” Kristi Daugherty, CEO Emergence Health Network said in a news release last fall.

One the app is downloaded, El Paso residents can enter their zip code and find access to mental health community resources and if someone they know is going through a mental health crisis they can get help from a trained mental health care professional.

Psychologist Richard Patterson tells ABC-7 mental health apps work because it can be hard for some people to meet get help face-to-face.

“One of the things the benefits of that is a lot of times where we need to talk to somebody we will kind of sensor what we have to say if were talking to a family member or a relative of some sort because because we fear their judgment,” Patterson said.

Patterson adds there’s a long history of peer counseling in society including Alcoholics Anonymous, where people can speak about their own addiction issues and talk to people going through the same things. He says there’s still a stigma about going to see a mental health professional.

“If I go to talk to a psychologist they’re going to think I’m crazy and so there’s an advantage to that in terms of support programs and someone who is more approachable because they don’t have the same stigma that sometimes comes with going to see a mental health professional,” Patterson said.

The anonymity is the idea behind apps like 7 Cups of Tea, where people can go online to talk to a network of listeners. In order to become a listener you must complete an hour-long online course designed by the app’s psychologist in residence, which teaches advanced skills for compassionate communication.

“We launched with both voice and messaging, and 99.8% of people just preferred messaging. They didn’t want voice. And what we learned was voice was too intimate. It was actually too anxiety-provoking,” CEO & Founder Glen Moriarty said.

A rise in opportunities, means a rise in concerns too.

“The negative side is you don’t know who you’re dealing with,” Dr. Patterson said.

Listeners on 7 Cups of Tea for example, can remain anonymous and don’t need to have a background in mental health. Moriarty says inappropriate conversations are flagged and redirected to a professional on the network.

Dr. Patterson says regardless of training some listeners may not be equipped to handle the seriousness of a situation and may miss out on verbal cues. While he believes in the importance of speaking out, he advises potential users to take caution.

“There is some kind of at least sensitive listening that they can get access to there is value to that but there needs to be done in a careful manner,” Dr. Patterson said.

Another pro to mental health apps the NIH considers is the cost. Many of the apps are free to download, compared to potentially pricey visits to a therapist.

To learn more about Mental Health and You, click HERE.

To learn more about 7 Cups of Tea, click HERE.