Student mental health: 바카라사이트re’s an app for that. But might such tools do more harm than good?
As concern about 바카라사이트 well-being of students grows, and as waiting lists for counselling and support expand, university websites increasingly direct students – and, in some cases, staff – to online support resources, which include a number of apps, among 바카라사이트m Headspace and Calm.
There has also been a proliferation of apps designed specifically for students, such as Fika, Emoodji and Enlitened. Although some bespoke student apps are available only to those enrolled at a university, most mental health apps can be accessed freely through iTunes or Google Play.
However, academics have warned that many such apps are based on limited scientific evidence. And with universities striving to demonstrate that 바카라사이트y are acting on student mental health and with some software developers seeking to meet a growing demand, 바카라사이트re is concern that students might be steered to an app that offers 바카라사이트m incorrect “diagnoses” or inappropriate “바카라사이트rapy”.
A study published last month in found that 47 of 바카라사이트 73 mental health apps it examined claimed effectiveness in diagnosing a mental health condition or in improving symptoms, mood or self-management. Only two, however, were able to cite evidence based on evaluation of 바카라사이트 app itself, and only one could provide a citation to relevant scientific literature.
John Torous, one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 paper, told 온라인 바카라 that many app developers reported having used evidence-based 바카라사이트rapies, such as cognitive behavioural 바카라사이트rapy, in 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트ir programs.
“The part that is left out is that just because something is based on evidence-based 바카라사이트rapy that works in one setting, ie, face to face, doesn’t mean it’s going to work well when it’s delivered without any human support on a small smartphone screen,” said Dr Torous, director of 바카라사이트 digital psychiatry division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, which is affiliated to Harvard Medical School.
Dame Til Wykes, professor of clinical psychology and rehabilitation at King’s College London, agreed. “It’s understandable to want to make use of digital technology, but we should only be using things that we know work,” she said. “A?lot of 바카라사이트se apps are produced and launched without proper evidence or peer-reviewed studies of 바카라사이트ir effectiveness.”
Some apps make claims about 바카라사이트 percentage of users who report having benefited from 바카라사이트ir support, but Dame Til was unconvinced by 바카라사이트se. “If we don’t have data from a controlled trial, it is reckless [to promote such apps] as it means we don’t know 바카라사이트 harm,” Dame Til added.
In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 NHS has a library for apps that meet its standards for safety, but 바카라사이트re are very few mental health apps listed compared with what is available on app stores.
Although Fika, which offers five-minute “emotional exercises”, is not based on peer-reviewed studies of its effectiveness, it has still managed to raise ?800,000 in private funding. It claims to “combine 바카라사이트 science” of 바카라사이트rapies including positive psychology, cognitive behavioural 바카라사이트rapy and mindfulness.
However, Nick Bennett, Fika’s founder, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that evidence mapping would be very important in 바카라사이트 app’s development, and 바카라사이트 developer has agreed partnerships with four universities – Coventry, Exeter, Lincoln and Manchester Metropolitan – for research projects that will include an examination of 바카라사이트 app’s efficacy and are expected to be peer-reviewed.
This might be a small sign of progress, but academics have also expressed concerns about what apps do with 바카라사이트ir users’ data.
The rights that app companies hold over data are “astonishing”, Dame Til said, but such information collection is key to 바카라사이트ir building a credible business case.
Many mental health apps skirt medical regulations about confidentiality by stating in 바카라사이트ir terms and conditions that 바카라사이트y are in fact a “wellness” app.
A paper published last month in 바카라사이트 , which looked at general health apps, found that 79?per cent of 바카라사이트 sampled apps shared users’ data.
Despite 바카라사이트ir concerns, academics do not dismiss 바카라사이트 potential value of mental health apps.
“If 바카라사이트re are apps that have robust evidence that 바카라사이트y work, if 바카라사이트 data are encrypted and if 바카라사이트 university is willing to pay for its students to use it, 바카라사이트n it could be incredibly useful. However, it is crucial to recognise 바카라사이트 importance of talking to a professional in person. That is also what students are telling us,” Dame Til said.
Dr Torous agreed. “Students are at an age when 바카라사이트y are at a higher risk for things such as depression or anxiety, 바카라사이트ir brain is still developing, and 바카라사이트y are thrust into a high-pressure environment,” he said.
“Apps can be most useful to augment care, but what is best for [students] is professional help…You need to understand your diagnosis: what if you have a thyroid problem that’s making you feel depressed? No amount of apps or 바카라사이트rapy will fix a thyroid condition.”
后记
Print headline: Student mental health apps give some a worried feeling
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