A researcher in the US found texting has a mental health application: as a form of treatment or support for people experiencing mental health issues.
Prof. Adrian Aguilera, clinical psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, has devised a text messaging service for patients with depression & other mental disorders. People are sent automated messages asking them to think & reply about their mood, about their responses to both positive & negative daily interactions, as well as reminding them to take their medication.
When the service was stopped after a few weeks, 75% of the recipients requested they continue to receive messages; one person reported the service made them feel 'cared for & supported' when stressed or in difficulty.
Aguilera's patients are mainly low-income Latinos, who experience significant challenges in their daily lives, & often lack ready access to alternatives. He says the texting concept was mix of technology and therapy; many of his patients had a mobile phone on a prepaid monthly plan, & many had trouble translating the lessons of therapy into their daily lives. In addition, finances denied a lot of patients regular internet access... 'so I thought about using mobile phones to send text messages to remind them to practice the skills covered in therapy sessions'.
Prof. Adrian Aguilera, clinical psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, has devised a text messaging service for patients with depression & other mental disorders. People are sent automated messages asking them to think & reply about their mood, about their responses to both positive & negative daily interactions, as well as reminding them to take their medication.
When the service was stopped after a few weeks, 75% of the recipients requested they continue to receive messages; one person reported the service made them feel 'cared for & supported' when stressed or in difficulty.
Aguilera's patients are mainly low-income Latinos, who experience significant challenges in their daily lives, & often lack ready access to alternatives. He says the texting concept was mix of technology and therapy; many of his patients had a mobile phone on a prepaid monthly plan, & many had trouble translating the lessons of therapy into their daily lives. In addition, finances denied a lot of patients regular internet access... 'so I thought about using mobile phones to send text messages to remind them to practice the skills covered in therapy sessions'.
The psychologist added the patient response demonstrates the positive impact of regular contact with their support team - even if it’s nothing more than a 140-character hello: 'we are harnessing a technology that people use in their everyday lives to improve mental health in low-income, under-served communities'.
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