Innovations Against Stress: How Digital Tools Revolutionize Mental Healthcare
Innovations Against Stress: How Digital Tools Revolutionize Mental Healthcare unknown
A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that people are experiencing significantly more stress today than in the 1990s.
Since 1992, April has been recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring more attention to the effects of stress, which has been shown to be detrimental to mental and physical well-being.
While stress continues to wreak havoc, technological innovations aim to provide a new, more flexible approach to stress management.
In other words, old problems can now be solved with modern solutions.
Stress in Modern Society
The above-mentioned study revealed that most stressors are related to money issues and, therefore, to the workplace and career.
The cost of living has given rise to the phenomenon of hustle culture – a mentality that one must work long hours and sacrifice one's personal life in order to succeed and be recognized at work.
According to the ADP Research Institute, workers in 17 countries put in 9.2 hours of unpaid overtime per week. This number has increased from 7.3 in 2020.
Unfortunately, this mindset and constant overwork lead to immense stress and, ultimately, burnout.
What's more, prolonged stress can cause or exacerbate a range of mental and physical problems, from depression to diabetes.
That's why it's important to re-evaluate the role success and wealth play in life and to take time to unwind after a long day at work.
Making Changes to Resist Stressors
Changing one’s ways is never simple – being used to stressful situations might appear as a coping mechanism, but usually, it’s a direct path toward burnout and depression.
Dainius Jakucionis, M.D., one of the creators of the Sensa app, points out that managing stress nowadays is just as important as eating healthy or getting enough sleep.
"We cannot escape stress, but we must find ways to cope with it. Finding relaxation and small pleasures in life is crucial – otherwise, you're just paving the way to burnout," says the psychotherapist.
Jakucionis notes that self-reflection is one of the most important strategies in stress management.
According to him, looking at one's own behaviors and actions in everyday situations can create an opportunity to change, improve, and become more resilient to stressors.
He also emphasizes the importance of sleep, nutrition, and physical activity for a healthy, stress-free life.
“Mental hygiene is very important, but so is making healthy choices for your body. Body and mind are connected, so good physical health will positively affect your mental health,” – says Jakucionis.
Employing Digital Tools to Improve Lifestyle
While in some cases having a mobile app for basically everything may seem excessive or irrelevant, mental health apps have received a lot of attention from society in recent years.
According to Precedence Research, the popularity of mental health apps increased by 54.6% in the two years between 2019 and 2021 and is expected to grow even more in the coming years.
And for good reason. Digital tools offer a variety of methods and techniques for managing stress, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – one of the leading approaches in the world of psychotherapy.
What's more, some mental health apps have been scientifically proven to be effective against stress – a recent publication in the Journal of Medical Internet Research showed that using the Sensa app was strongly associated with reduced feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress.
"In a fast-paced world where maybe not everyone has the time or means to visit a therapist often, it's great that technological innovations still provide an opportunity to improve your well-being and distress," – says Jakucionis.
Innovations in the Healthcare Field
The Sensa app is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most widely used and proven techniques for improving many mental health conditions. The primary goal of CBT treatment is to change a person's thinking patterns. After all, these tendencies are the cause of negative emotions and behavioral patterns.
Sensa is part of Kilo Health, a leading digital health and wellness company with 4+ million customers worldwide. As of 2022, it’s the second fastest-growing company in Europe on the FT 1,000 ranking.Media ContactCompany Name:
Sensa.HealthContact Person:
Agota MikaloneEmail:Send EmailCountry:
LithuaniaWebsite:https://sensa.health/