Buying a Happier Life: The business of mental health
What are the pros and cons of wellness apps?
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Before we dive into the details of this newsletter (which briefly reviews my personal experience and then the pros/concerns of mental health apps), I’d love to ask you a question.
How are you?
I’m not sure why you’re here as a Motherhood Minute reader but if you started following me because of this mental health focus, I’d like to welcome you into a space where your hard feelings are heard.
I recognize we often become readers because we’re going through something ourselves. After all, I didn’t start writing this series for the trending topic of mental health day in October. I started writing out of my own personal frustrations receiving care. I started writing letter after letter to you seeking answers and wondering if you were feeling alone too. I love this topic because ten years ago I had no tools and almost ended my life.
So if you’re feeling frustrated or a bit hopeless, I’d love to pray for you as I scream inside and cry and pray my own way through some days. You can email me at hello@chanelriggle.com if you prefer.
Yours, Chanel Riggle
In the early spring of 2022, I was a year into my postpartum depression and told my husband it was time to make therapy happen because I couldn’t function without outside help.
Of course, there were a few problems I needed to consider…I was still breastfeeding my 1-year-old daughter and she wasn’t yet in daycare (aka I was hardly ever alone). We were also running a two-person business together and I was spending as much time as I could sitting at a computer desk with my child in my lap…or I was night nursing and sitting alone with my thoughts.
I decided to try the app BetterHelp (not affiliated) which lets you fill out an assessment on what kind of therapist and therapy you’re looking to find. I was paying a $340 monthly payment (or $80/week). BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance but we didn’t have anything outside state insurance anyway, because we were self-employed. That monthly cost felt like a mountain to climb but we made it happen for about 3 months and it really helped.
I am grateful for my app-based therapy experience. I had a call every other week with my counselor but I spent a lot of time feeling relief that I could write out my feelings and thoughts in the journal section of the app late in the midnight sessions, and then email them to my therapist to read when she was “clocked on.” It’s one self documentation benefit I don’t have in my traditional counseling.
But a few months into my experience, my therapist notified me she had major life changes and had to leave BetterHelp. I was given an option of new therapists to try but the relationship I was finally beginning to build left me fractured and I ended up quitting the service.
There are a plethora of wellness apps that are starting up that attempt to comfort people with mental health conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. As of 2021, there were an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 mental wellbeing apps1 available and it’s an industry that is likely to keep growing with the right financial backing.
We have previously looked at how resources and providers can help reduce the mental health gap for people seeking help before a crisis occurs. Now let’s look at the pros and cons of mental health/wellness app care.
What are some positive aspects of the mental health products being offered?
Accessibility: Apps, online platforms, and wearable devices like fitness watches can make it easier for individuals to incorporate mental health practices into their daily lives, breaking down barriers to entry.
Case in point: I wear a Garmin Venu watch to help me track my vitals and fitness goals but I also benefit from the prompts to take time to follow a deep breathing exercise built in.
Empowerment: Mental health products can empower users to take an active role in managing their well-being. Apps offer a variety of tools, from guided meditations to mood tracking. These tools offer a sense of control in a time of stress.
Faster access to talk therapy: Providers who offer teleHealth video counseling or apps like BetterHelp can offer someone struggling with a faster option than waiting for a local counselor with long waitlists.
What are the potential negatives of digital mental health care?
Accessibility: In a different light there is a lack of accessibility for those who need more disability accommodations. You can read more about that in a study that explores the topic of “designing assistive technologies for people with disabilities [and consulting] colleagues who are mental health providers with mobility/dexterity and visual impairments.” 2
Data privacy concerns: For every company that promises not to misuse your personal information is a lawsuit against a company that sold your data. In this age of digital technology, it can feel inevitable. Mental health apps often involve the collection of sensitive data, raising concerns about privacy and security.
Potential for Misinformation: Not all mental health products are created equal. Some may lack scientific validation, leading to misinformation or the promotion of ineffective practices. This can be misleading for users seeking evidence-based solutions and it’s important to consider the vulnerability or desperation someone may feel when they are experiencing a great need for help.
Trending without support: Another concern to keep in mind when using these apps inside of a rapid-growth industry is that not every app developer is going to have a board room or developed plan for long-term customer management. If there are 10,000 to 20,000 recently developed wellness apps, the chances are that many developers are hopping on a trend.
Do your research, look at news organizations that may have reported these companies for privacy/data misuse3 or lack of science-backed research. Take care, friends.
Not all wellness apps are bad! But we need to stay aware of the risks of using them.
Are you enjoying this series? You can the 2022 and 2023 Mental Health newsletters here!
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/01/trends-mental-health-apps
Bunyi J, Ringland KE, Schueller SM. Accessibility and Digital Mental Health: Considerations for More Accessible and Equitable Mental Health Apps. Front Digit Health. 2021 Sep 29;3:742196. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.742196. PMID: 34713206; PMCID: PMC8521906. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8521906/
https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/03/ftc-says-online-counseling-service-betterhelp-pushed-people-handing-over-health-information-broke