Like so many healthcare issues, the COVID pandemic has made mental health problems a bigger problem, especially for teens. A smartphone may be able to help.
According to the World Health Organization, at least one in seven teens worldwide are struggling with mental health issues including depression and anxiety. A new digital therapeutic called SparkRx is designed to help address this problem. Intended as an adjunct to other treatment, this smartphone app uses cognitive behavioral therapy – CBT – to help teens and young adults cope with depression. The rewards-based program takes five to seven weeks to complete, and helps patients identify the connections between their behaviors and their moods. Interactive exercises help keep them engaged. And should the program detect language that might indicate the possibility for self-harm, it provides emergency guidance and access to resources designed to help with mental health crises. There is a shortage of trained professionals to help these patients, so digital therapeutics such as SparkRx can help provide immediate and private treatment options.
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