Mental Health Services and The Telehealth Movement in 2021
Digital health companies span the entire spectrum of medical fields, providing specialized attention and expertise to individuals through computer screens and cell phones. Counseling services and therapy sessions can benefit people in this way, as well. By allowing you to stay home while still receiving the benefits of mental health treatment, technology is opening figurative doors to new types of therapy and wellbeing.
You don’t need to be very tech-savvy to benefit from this age of digital wellness. Counselors and crisis centers are simple texts or phone calls away. However, if you’re looking for something more cutting-edge than a text or phone conversation, there are some great options available to you.
Companies as Wellness Facilitators
Rey Health utilizes virtual reality to simulate personalized situations. This therapy can help individuals in many ways, including calming social anxieties, lessening fear of heights, and improving attention. They connect you with a wellness coach that creates a plan tailored specifically to your individual needs. Being able to experience this type of customized therapy from the comfort of home lowers the threshold to receiving care for many people.
By extending the reach of counselors and clinicians into the digital arena, companies are improving access to much-needed services and lessening the stigma that often surrounds mental health treatment. This combined human-technology approach fosters participation, but if you’d like an approach that focuses more on the technology aspect of telehealth, downloadable apps are plentiful.
Apps as Therapeutic Tools
Clinicians, medical professionals, and engineers as a collaborative team have been shown to work wonders in terms of breaking new ground and addressing the needs of patients. That’s good news in the world of digital health because the sheer volume of available apps means you are likely to find one that meets your specific needs.
The convenience, service, and costs associated with mental health apps are some of the benefits of receiving care via your smartphone. The barriers to getting started are lower and many people feel increased comfort receiving therapy this way, especially if they have little or no prior experience with counseling.
Are you looking for a way to log your symptoms and detect patterns of behavior or triggers? A symptom-tracking app can help you monitor these things, whether just for your own reference or if you plan on using it in conjunction with counseling. Do you have an overactive mind at night and feel too anxious to fall asleep? There are many programs aimed at calming and preparing the mind for sleep.
Still, other apps offer supported care, peer support, or a focus on building skills like self-management or improving coping mechanisms. You can even use apps to connect with a therapist or mental health clinician. Whatever your needs or preferences are, you can probably find a targeted app to address them.
Whether it’s by promoting self-care, simulating social situations, or improving ease of access, psychological telehealth can provide many benefits. Digitization and an increased focus on mental wellness is a step in the right direction.