Expanding Use of Technology for Mental Health

More than half of people with mental illness are not receiving the care they need, but technology is offering those in need more ways to access mental health help.  While using technology is not new, it is rapidly changing and expanding.  A June 2015 World Health Organization report notes that 6 six percent of all mobile health apps relate to mental health.



A look at a few examples of the ways technology is improving mental health care:



Assess/ Track Symptoms

Technology is being used to help individuals and their physicians track depression symptoms. For example, one app helps monitor mental health by tracking in real time responses to depression screening questions. Many emergency rooms are now using remote access to psychiatrists to provide psychiatric services  that would not otherwise have been available.



Access to Therapy Remotely

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and other talk therapies are increasingly being provided remotely.  A recent study looking at computer and Internet based CBT found it to be a promising treatment for youth with depression and anxiety.



Connect

Technology allows people to connect to others for sharing, understanding, support and community.  For example, the Love is Louder campaign, a collaboration of The Jed Foundation, MTV and Brittany Snow, has hundreds of thousands of participants in its efforts to address issues such as bullying, discrimination, loneliness and depression. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has developed a support app, NAMIAir (Anonymous, Inspiring, and Relatable), for people looking to connect and talk about mental health. It is designed for use by individuals with mental illines and their families and allows people to share experiences and receive encouragement.







Communicate

Numerous apps are available to help people who have difficulty with communication, such as many people with autism, to express themselves.  The apps are changing the lives of many children and adults with autism.



But experts offer a word of caution when considering using technology to aid in mental health. One recent review of smartphone uses for mental health concluded that “mobile apps for mental health have the potential to be effective in reducing depression, anxiety, stress and possibly substance use.” However, the authors caution that few have been tested and found effective and they call for further research and possibly regulation.(1) Another group of researchers looking at smartphone apps for anxiety concluded that the apps can be useful for self-help and can complement existing treatment. However, they also cautioned that patients should be wary about security, privacy, and effectiveness.(2)





References

(1) Donker T, Petrie K, Proudfoot J, et al. Smartphones for Smarter Delivery of Mental Health Programs: A Systematic Review

(2) Chan S, Torous J, Misra S, et al. Smartphone apps for anxiety: A Review of Commercially Available Apps Using a Heuristic Review Framework. Poster presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, 2015.





By Deborah Cohen, Senior Writer, APA

Know Your Rights: Fair Insurance Coverage for Mental Health

Federal
law is clear that health insurance companies cannot discriminate against people
seeking care for mental illness or addiction. But how do you know if your insurance
company is not complying with the law? What can you do if you suspect a
violation?

The
American Psychiatric Association (APA) created a tool to help answer these
questions. The poster titled, “Fair Insurance Coverage: It’s the Law”
(Spanish-language version), clearly and
simply explains the law and the steps to take if you suspect a violation.

The
poster is intended to help enforce federal law and end discrimination.  Print it out and share the link (www.psychiatry.org/parity).

By
understanding your rights and taking action you can help ensure fair coverage
for yourself and your family, and you can help others by holding insurance
companies accountable.

What Federal Law Requires

The Mental Health
Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires any group health plan that covers more
than 50 employees and offers mental health and/or substance use disorders
coverage to provide that coverage with no greater financial requirements (such
as co-pays, deductibles, annual or life-time dollar limits) or treatment
limitations than the requirements the plan applies to medical / surgical
benefits. 

Also,
under the Affordable Care Act, new individual and small group plans in and
outside of the mandated health
insurance exchanges are required to offer mental and substance use
disorder coverage similar to medical/surgical benefits.

In addition to federal law, 49 states
and D.C. currently have laws relating to insurance coverage for mental health
and substance use.  More information,
including a summary table of state laws, is available from the National Conference of State Legislators.

By Deborah Cohen, senior writer, American Psychiatric Association

Study highlights lack of access to mental health care

By Arshya Vahabzadeh,MD 

 @VahabzadehMD



A new study from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics once again highlights that too many people living with mental health conditions are not getting needed care.



Study authors Laura A. Pratt, PhD, and Debra J. Brody, MPH, found that nearly 8% of Americans aged 12 and up had depression (moderate or severe depressive symptoms in the past 2 weeks). The rate of depression was twice as high among people living below the poverty level, 15%.



 Far more alarming, the study showed yet again that people with depression are going untreated. While nearly 90% of people with severe depressive symptoms reported difficulty with work, home, or social activities related to their symptoms, only about one-third (35.3%) had seen a mental health professional in the past year, according to the study. Among those with moderate depressive symptoms, only 1 in 5 had seen a mental health professional.



While there are many reasons people don’t get needed mental health care, including mental health stigma and lack of access, discrimination in mental health coverage by insurance companies shouldn’t be among the reasons. Federal law now requires that insurers cover mental health illnesses the same as physical ailments, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.





However, many people don’t know their rights when it comes to getting mental health treatment. To address this glaring problem, the American Psychiatric Association has released a new poster --

available to mental health professionals -- that explains in simple terms your rights under the law and what to do if you think your rights are being denied. Download a copy at www.psychiatry.org/parity.