Mental health problems are a big challenge that the U.S. population is facing. These disorders affect a vast amount of the country’s current population, including adults, seniors, and even the youth. The good thing is that more patients are willing to talk about it and opt for the required medical help to resolve the issues.
Based on a report published by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), in 2022, there was an increase in the percentage of American adults searching for mental health treatment solutions. The percentage rose from 19.2% in 2019 to nearly 21.6% in 2021.
One of the main reasons for this is the digitization of healthcare, which includes the mental health segment as well. Many technology trends and tools today are reshaping therapy and psychological counseling that patients seek for better mental health. These tech tools help to make mental health treatment more affordable, effective, and accessible for patients.
In this article, we will discuss some of the popular and useful tech solutions and tools that can bring a positive change to the mental healthcare domain in 2024.
Gamification
Prescription video games have been a buzz in the mental healthcare sphere for a while now. In 2020, the FDA sanctioned EndeavorRX, which is a game designed to treat ADHD in kids between the ages of 8 and 12. The game asks players to focus on multiple symptoms, thereby targeting their ailment symptoms engagingly.
It is a path-breaking example of mental healthcare innovation in action. Interestingly, the game functions both as a treatment method and diagnostic tool, adding an interactive approach to therapy. Kids have an affinity towards video games and are willing to play these games, which ultimately helps treat their ADHD issues.
The game collects crucial data. One can analyze the gameplay metrics to evaluate enhancement and recognize the areas that need increased focus. It is in line with the bigger technology trend assisting the mental health care segment by offering actionable insights to clinicians.
This tech tool is aimed at treating conditions like anxiety and depression, thereby holding space for advanced technology in the mental healthcare domain.
Behavioral Health Billing Software
In the mental healthcare industry, therapists and counselors work endlessly to cater to patient requirements. Naturally, they face ample administrative challenges that can affect care delivery and adversely impact the bottom line of your company. One of the prime challenges here is to keep using outdated, disjointed billing systems that result in mistakes and unwanted billing delays.
Modern behavioral health billing software has been designed specifically for those who provide behavioral health services. It comprises psychiatrists, psychologists, and various mental health treatment providers. This software helps to streamline the billing process. It makes it much easier to keep track of patient balances, submit claims to insurance agencies, and effortlessly manage various financial requirements of the practice.
Millin Associates states that leading market players in this niche design software that caters to the specifications outlined by behavioral health practices. Instead of offering clients a blank template, service providers today build a client database on their behalf.
It enables customers to set up their locations, integrations, patient demographics, and payers with other software. It ensures everything is well incorporated, and the billing is correct and streamlined from the first day of practice.
Virtual Reality Therapy
There’s more to virtual reality (VR) than immersive entertainment and gaming. This technology is touted as an innovative development in the mental healthcare treatment domain. VR comes with immersive capacities that empower patients to address and manage their fears and anxieties in a managed environment.
Instead of confronting their fears in real life, patients can navigate them virtually by making use of VRET (virtual reality exposure therapy). A study reveals that the success rate of VRET used with CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) ranges between 66% and 90% for patients who suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
It can also help to provide relief from pain and ensure that patients don’t become overly dependent on painkillers.
Neurofeedback Wearables
In 2024, neurofeedback wearables might just be a leading tech trend to watch out for. These advanced devices can sense signals that our brain sends to our body and provide accurate feedback so that we address and manage the symptoms. New-age devices can perceive distress and anxiety in seconds and provide instant feedback along with calming tactics.
Additionally, these wearables can become highly modern with the latest technological developments. They can provide customized interventions for mental health issues such as insomnia, ADHD, and anxiety.
In conclusion, the mental healthcare industry is all set to witness a positive change in 2024. The advanced technology tools mentioned above will allow practitioners and therapists to improve their service quality. It will also help the patients manage their symptoms better. With such advanced technologies becoming highly accessible in the forthcoming days, it can help people who faced barriers before receiving help.
