The increased use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops in society is sometimes considered deleterious to mental health and social connection. But what if such technology could actually improve your mental health and provide you access to needed mental health resources? NPR published an article by Singh (2014) documenting the new efforts therapists have made to develop technology that can be used in conjunction with other mental health interventions, such as therapy and medication. For instance, researchers from Hunter College and the City University of New York have developed an app called PersonalZen. The app is a game aiming to help you focus more on good stimuli as opposed to anxiety-provoking stimuli, modeled after a cognitive treatment for anxiety called attention-bias modification training. According to the developer, the app can be used to supplement treatment in those with anxiety disorders, or help build resilience in those with milder forms of anxiety.
There is also an app called ReliefLink, a mood-tracking tool and suicide-prevention app. This app tweets users regular affirmations, helps them make safety plans, and puts them in touch with nearby resources if they’re contemplating suicide. Similar apps, such as an app called A-CHESS, which was designed to help patients receiving counseling for alcoholism stay sober, are getting more scientific attention these days. While apps are not an appropriate substitute for in-person medical or psychiatric care, the research is generally positive, suggesting that apps may be a helpful supplement to treatments for a variety of disorders.