Mental health and tech: what role can IP play?
Technology is, more than ever, a fundamental part of the world we live in. Phones and computers are practically ubiquitous, and we simply cannot ignore the ways that our increased use of, and reliance on, technology affects our mental health.
This cannot be said too often: systemic inequality and prejudice play by far the greatest role in mental health inequality on local and global scales. Technological advances in the field carry these issues with them.
As technology advances, and sophisticated communications devices have become more commonplace, sufferers from poor mental health have increasingly turned to technological solutions to the problems we deal with day to day. This has become more readily observable with the lockdowns imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unable to conduct face-to-face sessions, people turned to Zoom calls and apps, seeking a way to further their recovery journeys through technological means.
Limited access to wellbeing tech
These methods, in particular mental health apps, are still an emerging field and have not been subjected to the same rigorous scrutiny as traditional therapies, but there can be little doubt that they are becoming steadily more prevalent. Studies have suggested that they can be beneficial, with research suggesting that “mobile apps can be used to effectively treat common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety”
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)—with a focus on mindfulness training, mood monitoring, and cognitive skills training to treat depressive symptoms—appears particularly well-suited for delivery by mobile app. Studi es show at least a small to moderate improvement in depressive symptoms compared to control conditions.
However, as beneficial as these programmes and applications may be, the unpleasant truth is that access to them is limited across various segments of society. Income inequality and geographic restrictions may mean that a great many users are unable to use these resources. In segments of society without access to devices such as smartphones or laptops, these apps simply do not offer a feasible solution. Several of these solutions are subscription-based, meaning that users who cannot afford the recurring fee are barred from computerised therapies in the same way they are from in-person ones.
