Impact of Technology on Mental Health Many critics of digital mental health have constantly argued on the adverse effects of technology on mental health. Some associate the use of social media, for example, with the increasing cases of mental disorders especially among adolescents. For instance, an estimate showed that one in five adolescents have a diagnosable mental disorder with depression being the most prevalent mental disorder that is catching up with most high school students (Becker 6). Although these claims might appear convincing, further research has found out that the same resources available via online sources can be used as solutions to existing mental health problems. Some researchers found some mental health programs available …show more content…
Digital health involves using technology for keeping records, booking systems, prescribing, and directing treatment online. While this may apply to physical health, some researchers see digital health as a way of improving mental health through the online resources, social media, and smartphone applications usage. They argue that digital mental health may have benefits such as improved access to online self-help services and reduced stigma (Mental Health Foundation). On the same note, research suggests that digital health creates an easy access for reaching potential clients more effectively. A recent study found that although these services are available online, many people are not aware of their existence, as well as, the digital mental health therapies as a whole (Mental Health …show more content…
With the advent of online services via smartphones, tablets, and laptops, individuals can now connect with quicker speeds reaching far distance parameters. In this regard, people who prefer not to interact face-to-face with a physician or a therapist, probably because of social phobia or agoraphobia, may find digital mental health useful. At times when visiting a healthcare service, therapists in the consultation unit often have waiting lists. As such, the digital psychological services can come in handy to provide support as one is waiting for the face-to-face interaction with the therapist. Through the online approach, people in the remote areas who have difficulty in accessing face-to-face services due to long distances can use the e-mental health services. Indeed, technology has played a significant role in improving mental health services as seen above. However, its use has had both positive and negative impacts to the society as seen
This evidence attempts to bring about change in order to sway young adults to find a balance between social media and depression.
The only limitation to the study is that it failed to mention any costs related to obtaining the services. And it did not mention any demographic variables with respect to race, average age, and levels of income and mental health status (at intake) of the population they served. According to Cummings (2009) at intake, clients suffered a greatly with their activities of daily living and were recently hospitalized for psychiatric issues. It would be unfair to assume that the current study took into account for any of these issues. The study was limited in revealing this pertinent information. Greater knowledge of the patient during intake may provide for greater accuracy in determining the correct agency to direct the prospective client. Other than that, the program appears very thorough in their service delivery.
Improving health is in the best interest of everyone, including non-health professionals. Health managers need to be constantly looking for ways to improve access to health care, the quality of the care, and cost containment. Often, the biggest barriers to accessing healthcare are cost and location. Lower income individuals just do not have the resources to have optimal healthcare, or cannot take the time away from employment to deal with health issues. One potential solution to help with these problems could be “telehealth.”
The language used in this article is balanced more towards the sufferers and potential users of technology, this article is warning of the dangers happening now and for the future, there is also a requirement of the providers of technology platforms to recognise the problems. These are potentially the main intended readers of this article. Haig has successfully explained his point of view in respect of the issues raised, that internet and technology especially with the use of Social Media are affecting the mental health of its users. There are issues in respect that Internet giants such as Facebook or Instagram should share some of the corporate responsibility of the problems they are creating provision of these Social Media
Owen, K. (n.d.). 9 ways technology affects mental health. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from Do Something website: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/9-ways-technology-affects-mental-health#
Mishna, F., Bogo, M., Root, J., Sawyer, J., & Khoury-kassabri, M. (2012). "It just crept in": The digital age and implications for social work practice. Clinical Social Work Journal, 40(3), 277-286. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10615-012-0383-4
In the article “Could lots of time spent on Social be tied to depression? “, author Alan Mozes have talked about a recent research which was done to find relationship between social media and depression. The study had 1,800 men and women ages range between 19 to 32 years old participated. The main question for this finding was, is greater involvement of social media linked to depression or is it depressed people who are drag to social media? Dr. Brian Patrick have suggested three types of results which are expected from the study one of the strongest possibilities is that people who have depressive symptoms tend to use social media more often because they don’t feel the energy to engage with new people.
The movement has moved across hardware, digital applications, and into what can be described as accessible and mobile implementations. The enhancements to practice are a matter of harnessing the strengths that the tools provide (Schoech, 2014). Within social work use of technology there are various means to utilize the innovations. According to Jaskyte (2012), technology can be used as an administrative or operational function, promoting a message of support and advocacy, or as a means of direct service delivery. This ultimately creates and allows organizational structure to flourish in an effective manner and be able to survive the vastly expanding technological world (Mano, 2009). The integration of innovative advancements ultimately lends themselves to being tools for change
While this research gave her a very detailed insight into how social media can have a positive effect on younger people by improving social interactivity it also revealed that when a child is bullied on social media it can have an extremely injurious effect on their mental health. She feels that with the presence facebook especially, it leads to narcissism antisocial tendencies and aggression, while overuse cases anxiety and depression. The two main causes of anxiety and depression due to social media are researched to be bullying and unrealistic expectations such as unrealistic looks, weight and valuables. When teenagers, especially females, see these unrealistic expectations and understand that it is unreasonable to achieve these so called desirable factors they put an immense amount of pressure on themselves as they feel that they aren 't good enough which causes anxiety and depression (Sternberg Clinic, 2015). Another major negative impact that social media can have on an young individual 's mental health when used excessively is impacting the quality of students school work and overall performance. Teens are masters at keeping themselves occupied in the hours after school and way past their bedtime, which results in them not attempting to complete their homework. When students try to multi-task by studying and checking
In the US, 6.7% of the population over the age of 18 is suffering from depression (Sunstrum 2014). In today’s society, there is technology dependence. Although social media can enhance learning and facilitate habits, it can also have a negative effect on the individual because it can affect their ability to form relationships.
One of the most concerning effects of social media is depression. When teens create an online identity, they are often displaying an unauthentic self. This “other” self is often what the person wants to be like. Having to jump from the online self to the real self can often lead to depression. In an article in the Huffington Post, Dr. Jim Taylor calls this Facebook depression. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that “Researchers have proposed a new phenomenon called “Facebook depression,” defined as depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression.” (802). Facebook and other social media outlets create an almost high school-like environment outside of school where the teen has to strive for acceptance as well. Dr. Moreno tells the New York Times that ...
It is important not to let technology interrupt what is important for mental health. Next time while at the dinner table put the phone down and communicate with family members. Try to limit time on the internet and simply do as many activities as possible without technology. Technology may help the world but is not beneficial when it comes to the people using it, technology is truly taking a turn for the
Today, the numbers of people with mental health issues are considerably high. The problem increases the national and global social and economic burdens as governments try to find means of empowering the people with the issue and solve the problem. Today, one in five adults in the United States has a mental health problem (“Mental Health Facts,” 2016). “Mental Health Facts” (2016) also states that the adults that received mental health services are about 60%. Only 50% of the youth with mental health issues received mental health services in the previous year. Further, mental health issues are also related to drug use and addiction. Of all the mental illnesses and disorders, depression affects the most people and has the biggest burden globally. Due to the increasing burden and the gap in service utilization, the mental health policy seeks to address several factors. Some of the key issues to address include early diagnosis of mental disorders, provision of appropriate and adequate intervention a particular problem, education and counseling for the family members, and research to help reduce the numbers and reverse the trend. Another key area of focus is the use of mass media to create awareness about mental health issues and help clear the
According to the article, “10 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental Problems,” Degreed claim that social media make us restless by “two-thirds admitted to having difficulty relaxing when unable to use their social media accounts.” Teenagers are always tired when they have to stay up late at night to catch up with all the news feed on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter that make them have no energy to go on the next day. Based on the newspaper, “Excessive Social Media Use Harms Children’s Mental Health,” by the Telegraph shows that “children who go on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more than three hours a day are more likely to have mental health problems.” Social media can lead to bullying that affects teenagers mental health issue and being stressed. Social media have now taken a part of human life and some are addicted to the point where they can’t even live without
The effect can been seen on the society as people now hide behind screens and tend to have limited face to face commutation. It’s also ironic that many relationships were built through online chatting and later were disappeared without people meeting one another in reality. Perhaps, one of the most downsides of Social media is the weakening of the bond between family members. In other words, the overuse of technology such as laptops and smartphones have negatively affected healthy relationships and led to isolation, depression and psychological conditions due to the lack of support between family members. Education wise, social media is believed to be one of the reasons behind the drop in educational level and standard among teenagers and children. The great amount of time they spend on social medial is likely to affect their intelligence as the brain become lazier in memory and information processing. In addition, Students are now totally reliant on “google” to find the answer for their research assignments or a question in their homework before attempting it by themselves. Unfortunately, social media has also led to decrease in spelling and grammar skills between students and children as many depend on ‘autocorrect’’ to check the spelling of their words and finish their sentences. Additionally, Moreover people became motionless because they are ignoring the real nature of speaking or writing,