Other times, you feel something bothering you, but you are not sure how to proceed.
Your mind may be overwhelmed after a hard day at work. You may be repeatedly thinking about a conversation. Or maybe you just want some peace of mind in order to reflect on what you should do next.
These are some of the cases where mental health tools based on digital technologies can provide an effective means of intervention.
Artificial Intelligence-based solutions can give people an opportunity to reflect on their thoughts, gain knowledge related to mental health, and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Such tools will be accessible at the moments people need them, without making them prepare their minds beforehand. However, applying AI technologies for supporting mental well-being requires understanding the nature of this approach and its capabilities.
A Place to Start
Not all difficult situations require big action. Often, it is just about taking some distance from oneself and getting to know one’s emotions better.
A digital partner can help one articulate the idea or think about an experience or what could be driving a certain emotion. Writing down things gives a small distance from the actual situation and makes it easier to observe what is going on.
For example, someone could start with:
“I feel very unmotivated recently, but I do not know why.”
Exploring the idea will show whether the person feels exhausted, stressed, overwhelmed, thrown out of his/her usual routine or maybe it is about something else.
It can work similarly for daily behaviours. Mood monitoring, sleep, routines, or personal goals can show patterns which are difficult to spot when one gets caught up in the everyday life.
Awareness of small moments can turn into bigger steps towards self-knowledge.
Making Mental Health Support Easier to Reach
Access is key.
Everyone does not have immediate access to a psychologist or a counsellor. Making an appointment, sorting out the cost issue, traveling to the service provider, and even making the decision to seek help can sometimes seem like a daunting challenge.
With technology, it becomes easier to take that first step towards improving mental health. One is able to educate themselves on the subject, think through issues on their own, test out strategies of coping, and even prepare for a discussion with a confidant. In some cases, this can become the first step towards identifying needs.
This, however, does not reduce the importance of the technological experience in any way.
More Than Just Answers
Receiving an answer to a question is not sufficient to say that one has an effective digital mental health support.
The term ‘effective’ refers to the type of experience that may occur throughout the process.
Thus, an individual may begin by describing a stressful situation and end up learning how to feel about it. The person may analyse different ways of responding rather than acting on feelings immediately. By doing this, the individual will learn about a strategy that helps him/her cope with the stress.
It is quite evident that this reflects the positive role played by technology because it contributes to self-awareness improvement.
Solving a problem in one conversation is not the only goal that can be reached.
Keeping the Experience Personal
The mental well-being is something intimate, and context makes the difference.
A single situation can affect two persons in absolutely different ways. An individual’s past experiences; relationships, everyday life, values, and situations are crucial in determining one’s attitude toward what is happening around him/her.
Therefore, digital mental health initiatives should enable people to describe their situations instead of presupposing what the right thing to say or do in the situation is.
An effective instrument must make a person think instead of being told what he/she should feel or do.
The most significant part of the discussion is always the person themselves.
Knowing When More Support May Help
Digital methods can assist with daily emotional health but they do not need to be the only kind of help via technology.
There may be situations where a person comes to realize through their own thoughts that they need to consult a psychologist, counsellor, physician, advisor, etc.
Providing that opportunity is a merit of digital support and that is important because it is sometimes vital to understand the moment when one should go ahead and consult someone.
Privacy Matters Too
Conversations related to mental health can be deeply intimate.
Individuals may resort to using online platforms to discuss any fears, relationships, family situations, loneliness, tension, or any other matters they may not be comfortable discussing face-to-face. Hence, feeling secure in their interactions is critical.
Before relying on any digital service related to mental health, it is worth learning more about its privacy policy and the fate of the information shared.
Trust is not created by technology only. It is formed by providing users with transparency, freedom of choice, and control.
So, Where Does AI Fit?
Mental health discussions can often mean communicating about very personal topics.
In their searches for help, people might log in to various online services to bring up their worries about relationships, families, solitude, stress, and other issues they may not be comfortable dealing with in direct communication with others. Therefore, ensuring safe communication is vital.
Before considering online services for mental health that rely on technology and allow for communication, it is reasonable to explore the related privacy policies and information processing practices.
Simply speaking, people need to have assurance not only about safety but also about getting transparent information and meaningful choices when dealing with technology.
Start With a Check-In
It’s not always necessary to know fully what is wrong before doing something about it.
You could start by questioning yourself and asking, ‘how are things with me today?’
You could be doing much better than you think or perhaps something has been bothering you.
You might even be needing to take a break to gather your thoughts.
Technology can help one embark on that journey by assisting in the process of mental healing.