As the looming exam period draws near, university libraries are witnessing an increase in occupancy as students dedicate longer hours to dive into the vast sea of books, articles, and videos assigned by their coordinators. In the midst of this academic intensity, the stress levels of many students may be on the rise. It prompts an intriguing question: Can technology come to the rescue, helping young adults manage this stress and maintain their mental well-being? Furthermore, how do these applications integrate the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI)? In this discussion, I’ll explore two categories of mental health apps: those centered on meditation and mindfulness and those offering therapies and chatbot interactions.
Meditation and Mindfulness:
One of the prominent players in this space is Headspace, a meditation and mindfulness app known for its guided meditation sessions, geared towards stress reduction and improved sleep. Headspace’s offerings also extend to topics as anxiety, stress, and personal growth. Impressively, Headspace claims that users experience approximately 32% less stress after 30 days of app use, with a 19% reduction in anxiety and a 29% decrease in depression after 8 weeks of consistent usage. Notably, the company recently acquired Sayana, a mental health application utilizing AI-driven chat-based sessions to encourage users to monitor their mood and its influencing factors. Leveraging this data, it personalizes the user experience and offers scientifically verified self-care exercises, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and breathing exercises (Business Wire, 2022). I personally also have been using app for the last 2 years and would definitely recommend it to just take a step back and reflect on how you’re actually doing.
Another well-known player in this field is Calm, which shares a similar focus, offering meditation, sleep stories, and relaxation techniques.
Therapies and Chatbots:
For those seeking more direct interactions, Talkspace, 7 Cups, and Woebot represent distinct approaches. Talkspace connects users with licensed therapists for online therapy sessions, extending a wide range of therapy services that make mental health support more accessible. On the other hand, 7 Cups serves as a peer support platform, connecting users with trained listeners who provide emotional support and active listening, with the key distinction being the source of support and its accessibility.
Woebot stands out as a chatbot designed to deliver Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques and support for individuals managing anxiety and depression. With the advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI), chatbot-based solutions are gaining popularity due to their accessibility and the fact that they don’t rely on a physical person to provide support. However, experts rightfully argue that this technology is still in its infancy and may not be capable of offering robust support (yet). Especially because of the sensitivity of mental health and its potential significant health risks attached.
I have not used any online therapies or chatbots (yet), since I’m more comfortable with talking to people in real life as it’s easier for me to feel the energy. However, I can definitely see the added value of 7 Cups since it’s less pressured than talking to a certified therapist and still different than talking to a chatbot (it just feels different when you know you’re talking to a chatbot).
Have you ever used any of these tools? Are you considering their use in the future to help manage stress and maintain your mental well-being during demanding periods?
I find the subject very interesting, as stress and mental health are a major issue nowadays for mental healthcare. With that in mind, I think the link to how AI could assist in this is very good. I believe that to alleviate the current pressure, with new innovations, healthcare will increasingly have to rely on these apps. I found it interesting to read about the types currently on the market and what they do. However, I would have also liked to read about the kind of technology or approach they use to actually help people relax or reduce their stress, and how this market is currently evolving. I also thought the follow-up questions were a nice twist because it makes you think
Thank you for this enlightenment. I never considered mental health applications, as my coping mechanism for stress is to increase productivty. However, I was asking myself, if ChatGPT would have the same capabilities as these applications? Especially, due to their chatbot nature. But, maybe you know more about this and could explain it to me:)
You certainly provided an interesting and fresh perspective on how to alleviate stress of students. I have not used any of these tools in the past to manage stress and maintain my mental well-being. However, I do agree that these applications, especially Woeboet’s cognitive behavioral therapy chatbot, offer an unprecedented degree of accessibility and personalization in addressing mental health. I think they are able to complement, but not fully replace, in-person therapy or support from friends and family.