Whether you’re standing in an elevator or sitting down at a dinner table, chances are that one of the people next to you is experiencing psychological hardship. Maybe it’s you. Last year, an estimated 47 million Americans experienced mental illness; that’s almost one in five.
In response, mobile apps designed to increase users' psychological wellbeing have similarly proliferated in recent years. Some are generic wellness apps that motivate people to meditate or do yoga, while others provide targeted treatments for specific mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder. Each of these technologies has the potential to reach people who might otherwise lack access to mental health care.
