The role of health apps in mental health – meeting patient needs

Knut Schroeder

Hello!

Practising GP

Health literacy and self-care

Health information apps

Why mental health?

Common – 1 in 4 adults

Impact on people’s lives

Treatable

www.nhsconfed.org

Challenges

Need for information

Stigma and help-seeking

Ongoing support

British Psychological Society: bps.org.uk

Royal College of Psychiatrists: rcpsych.ac.uk

MIND: mind.org.uk

MH apps - benefits and uses

Source: JMIR Mental Health 2015;2(1):e10

Pros

• Convenience

• Anonymity

• Introduction to care

• Lower cost

• Service to more people

• Interest

• 24-hour service

• Consistency

• Support

Source: National Institute of Mental Health, 2016

Cons

• Effectiveness

• For whom and for what

• Guidance

• Privacy

• Regulation

• Overselling

Source: National Institute of Mental Health, 2016

‘WorkOut’ app

• Principles of CBT

• Increase well-being

• Manage problems better

‘Mind shift’ app

• Manage anxiety

• Change thinking

• Reduce stress

‘Mindfulness Coach’ app

• Exercises & reminders

• Tracking

• Focus on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Meeting user needs: ‘SAM’ app

Winner – Best Anxiety Apps 2016

Understand and manage anxiety

Monitor anxious thoughts and behaviour

Self-help exercises & mini games

Private reflection

Social cloud – anonymous SAM community

Over 500K downloads

I really like I can track my

anxiety…The best part there is chat…

SAM app – user feedback

Helps me put things in order

and relax

Why is the SAM app so successful?

•Meets user needs

•Developed by experts• Psychologists• User experience

•User input

Why involve users?

• Test assumptions

•New ideas

• Improvements

How to involve users?

•Make users part of your team

•Ask the right questions – often!

•Get a deep understanding• Virtual discussion groups• Interviews & focus groups• Questionnaires

Evaluating mental health apps

• No review boards

• Limited check-lists

• No rules

• Lack of peer-reviewed research

• No national standards

Source: National Institute of Mental Health, 2016

How to achieve and maintain standards?

NHS Guide for Developing Mobile Healthcare Applications

Future trends

• Self-management

• Improve thinking-skills

• Skills-training

• Illness management & supported care

• Passive symptom tracking

• Data collection

Source: National Institute of Mental Health, 2016

Involve users

knut.schroeder@expertselfcare.com

@DrKnut

Thank you!