Technology and the future treatment of mental health

Technology and the future treatment of mental health

Mental health is the psychological wellbeing of an individual which enables him to behave normally and socialize well with others in the environment. On the other hand, mental illness is the presence of psychiatric disorders which alter the thinking, mood and behaviours of a person. Mental disorders are caused by stress, loneliness, grief, addiction and other factors in the environment which affect an individual psychologically.

Ways Technology Can Complement Mental Health Services

Some of the health conditions that affect the psychological functioning of individuals include Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia and Huntington’s illness. Diagnosis and treatment of most mental disorders are challenging since they possess similar signs and symptoms with very slight differences. It, therefore, calls for medical practitioners with relevant skills and knowledge to identify and differentiate the conditions for safe treatment procedures to be administered.

Scientific research has taken place for long time to help identify pharmacology treatment for mental disorders. In the past, people used trepanation, lobotomy and exorcism as the methods of psychological disorder treatment which proved not to be efficient.

Patients continued to get worse even after the treatment procedures had been administered. Some treatments exposed more danger to the patient and others went further to causing death. For instance, the surgical process of trepanation by use of tools that were not safe to make holes through the skull of the patient contributed to the death of most patients.

Improvement in technology has led to the innovation of better ways to handle mental illnesses. The probability of the treatment methods being effective has raised to significant levels. Pharmacotherapy method has been invented where drugs are identified as sufficient enough to reduce the levels, of mental illnesses in patients.

Technology has also improved the level of socialisation by creating the ability to speak with friends and loved ones from any part of the world. The problems of isolation and loneliness which depression and hence mental issues have been solved. Individuals can share, discuss and solve problems in time before they affect them and cause mental disorders.

Treatment of mental disorders does not necessarily need medical attention. A change in behaviours and lifestyle sometimes treats it. Technology provides a useful platform for Internet-based support groups that someone can attend in the comfort of your home. Individuals can get advice and knowledge about the best lifestyle that will help get rid of a specific mental disorder.

Technology advancement has also created room for more medical innovations which gives hope of discovering a pharmacology treatment to all the mental disorders.

Technology and the future treatment of mental health