Abstract
What a great help it would be to confidently rely on a personalized pocket therapist to get through a tough day. The “ghost in the machine”, consciousness, or response mimicry processes (by apps, bots, within online platforms) indicates ways to minimize stress for anxious people. Trends in the US reflect a confluence of mental health struggles among the populace, a shortage of licensed mental health providers, and broad online access. These issues and phenomena connect to and clash with income disparities (socio-economic class), health insurance coverage (not a right but a privilege), and several other factors. How do free online platforms, AI chatbots, mood trackers, CBT self care, etc., fulfill a function, and what are possible boundaries and limits? Do popular TikTok and YouTube health tips count? Are state-sponsored platforms or clinic apps a better way for people? This poster will present context by presenting federal/national/local data (USDH; CT-DMHS; Pew) on depression and anxiety. We highlight select mental health data on women, university students, lower income, and ethnic/racial minorities. Snapshots illustrate numbers of licensed, trained, professionals in the US. The digital landscape today reveals stepping stones toward possible solutions for human problems. There are no solid answers about how digital world creations can be harnessed for profound positive differences in national mental health. There are humanitarian-based hopes. We must all continue to ask forward-oriented questions about innovations and services created to improve our lives.
Presenters
Graciela Quinones-RodriguezPsychiatric Social Worker-Mental Health Clinician, Student Health and Wellness-Mental Health Services, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, United States Diana Rios
Faculty Communication and EL Instituto: Latino-Latin American Caribbean Studies, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
MENTAL HEALTH, ONLINE, CERTIFIED+COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS, US+TRENDS, DEPRESSION, APPS, DIGITAL
