Mental health and technology Dr Eva Cyhlarova Head of Research Elise Leclerc Communications and Involvement Manager
Jul 08, 2015
Mental health and technology
Dr Eva Cyhlarova Head of Research
Elise Leclerc Communications and Involvement Manager
We all have mental health!
• Think about MH as a continuum • People with mental health diagnoses are just people • There is usually not a quick fix • Be aware of stigma
• 1. problems of knowledge (ignorance) • 2. problems of attitudes (prejudice) • 3. problems of behaviour (discrimination)
• Need to change behaviour, not just attitudes • E.g. talking therapies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
(CBT, c-CBT)
• Become more mindful with work
• Engage better with people
• Reduce stress, anxiety or depression
Reasons to learn mindfulness online
“Every £1 spent on employee wellbeing saves £1.96 in the short term and £3.07 in the long term” (Knapp, McDaid and Parsonage, 2011)
• Four weeks • Ten online sessions • Five audio downloads • Twelve assignments
to practice • Six downloadable handouts • Online tools to view your progress • Aftercare pack by post
The course
Stress, depression and anxiety
• Planned with single parents, BME groups, prisoners…..
Self-management training
• Planning, problem solving, goal setting
• Developed by people with mental illness
Evaluation of self-management
• Wellbeing • Functional living skills • Goal achievement
• Cost-effectiveness
• Baseline • 6 months • 12 months
Reasons for employing people with Asperger syndrome (AS)
• Above average in certain skills, particularly technology, finance, mathematics, music
• Can be excellent with detail and focus • Independent thinking – unique contribution • Benefits of a diverse workforce
Aims of projects
• To train staff to be tolerant of difference • To use reasonable adjustments • To develop skill in communicating and supporting
people with AS • To offer mentoring to people with AS & managers
+ budding scheme Novartis Goldman Sachs European Space Agency
Digital tools to support young people’s mental health • Partnership of 4 funders and
young people at board level • Co-design with young people,
designers and mental health/youth professionals
• 2 ‘ideation’ physical events separated by an online incubation period
Innovation labs: Phase 1
• Winnowing down from 194 ideas to 8 • ‘Enabling technology’: conducting existing practice in a
more efficient way (e.g. computer assisted/online CBT) • ‘Transformative technology’: changing the locus of
control for care (Mind’s Eye, Mini Me, Doc Ready) • Access to information • Peer support • Crowd-sourcing • Individuals and therapists: challenge of dissemination of
innovation • Cost-effectiveness
Innovation labs: Phase 2
Challenges technology should address in a MH context
• Better understanding of triggers and causes for mental health problems
• Feeling in control • Access (to information, to training, to care) • Anonymity/confidentiality (stigma remains one of
the main reasons for seeking help online) • Cost-effectiveness • Appeal and motivation for specific target groups
(e.g. CYP)
Things to think about
• Change the locus of control • Quality & effectiveness • Safety & safeguarding • Confidentiality • Access & inequalities • Peer support • Efficiency (increasing disease burden and
decreasing resources)