In total, the global population with a mental health or substance abuse disorder numbers around 13% – a figure likely to increase as people continue adjusting to the upended lifestyle amid the pandemic. Social distancing, quarantine, and lockdown are a few examples of how the pandemic strips people of arguably their greatest asset – their social characteristics.
The primary strength of humans lies in their ability to cooperate with a countless number of fellow humans flexibly and effectively – if one compares a human and chimpanzee on individual terms, the chimpanzee will unquestionably outperform the human in many aspects; however, humans reign supreme when it comes to interpersonal cooperation. It is not surprising, then, that abruptly introducing lockdown and social distancing measures causes humans mental anguish.
Ending mental health stigma is, therefore, more urgent than ever. A national survey has recently discovered that as many as 59% of U.S. citizens experienced a mental health issue as an indirect effect of the novel coronavirus. With technology evolving constantly, modern medicine has a valuable weapon to deploy in the form of IoT (Internet of Things), in addition to the more conventional methods such as psychotherapy and mindfulness to improve many mental disorders.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, was developed on the foundation of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theories – which at its core argues that people can recover from mental disorders if they can gain insight via paying attention to their unconscious thoughts and motivations.
Today, mental health professionals use talk therapy to improve symptoms of mental illnesses and introduce healthy means to their clients to better cope with life stresses. Among the most treatable mental illnesses, anxiety, mood, and eating disorders are worth mentioning as psychotherapy has much to offer people with these conditions.
Conversations with therapists are confidential unless there is an immediate threat to one’s safety – this unquestionably boosts the effectiveness of the treatment. Concerning the outcome of psychotherapy sessions, it might not always cure the condition; however, the therapy can provide them with fundamental coping mechanisms to manage the symptoms healthily. Also, psychotherapy can result in higher self-esteem and a better quality of life.
Mindfulness
From homemakers to business people and sports people, everyone can benefit from mindfulness. Whether doing the laundry at home or fixing a broken table leg and finding oneself disconnected from the present moment and their very own feelings, people can use mindfulness techniques to focus on the present moment and appreciate it without judgment.
What’s more, mindfulness is today being examined in a scientific environment and linked with reducing stress and improving overall happiness. Taking its origin from Buddhism, mindfulness today improves overall well-being, physical and mental health.
A mindful mindset enables one to soak up the positive experiences in life as they occur, helps one immerse oneself in activities, and provides fundamental tools to deal with adverse events. Focusing on the present moment, many people practicing mindfulness find that they are less likely to fixate on worries about the future and are thus able to strike up meaningful relationships with people from all walks of life.
Also, scientists have found out that practicing mindfulness can boost physical health in several ways. From relieving stress to treating heart disease, mindfulness can become one’s reliable companion in their pursuits of excellent physical health. In addition, psychotherapists have started to regard mindfulness meditation as an essential component in treating several mental disorders, substance abuse, eating, anxiety, mood disorders.
Therefore, it is no surprise that mindfulness is increasingly becoming more relevant in modern medicine.
IoT
When one talks about the Internet of Things, it is of the utmost importance to not forget the most fundamental characteristic of it – its ability to connect anything in the world to the internet. This capability enables internet of things services to connect humans and machines in a way we have never experienced before as a society. In the mental health sector, IoT can bring about a number of valuable improvements, from easy access to mental health information to effective treatments.
To begin with, IoT can provide people with a 24/7 outlet to get instant mental health information. For example, in the case of a panic attack, it is likely that there will be more information online than what one can find in their local library. With current technologies, one can even receive automated mental health information, which can be especially useful for those with trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder.
As IoT is making its way into homes, it is conceivable that people will be able to purchase home monitoring systems that can detect the onset of mental disorders for people in their care. When a person is in the throes of a panic attack, it is likely they will not be able to adequately reflect on their condition and come to a sensible conclusion. Therefore, it is critical that such systems be able to detect the onset of panic attacks and send notifications to their caretakers, who can take immediate actions to help the affected person.
Conclusion
As the world population is adjusting to the pandemic, all of us can do our part to improve the mental health of our fellow human beings. Further, with the advent of IoT, it is possible to improve the quality of life for people with mental disorders, and eventually, eliminate the stigma surrounding the mental health sector as a whole.
With a handful of proper mental health knowledge, one can easily join the campaign to improve mental health awareness and make the world a better place to live in.