Title

Mental Health Mobile Apps: From Infusion to Diffusion in the Mental Health Social System

Authors

Marlene Lynette East 1, 2 , Byron C Havard 3

Author Affiliations

¹ East Counseling Services, Inc., Private Counseling Practice, Panama City Beach, FL, US

² The University of West Florida, Instructional & Performance Technology Specialization, Pensacola, FL, US

³ The University of West Florida, Associate Professor, Instructional & Performance Technology Department, Pensacola, FL, US

Publication Information

JMIR Publications, 2015.

Date of Publication

2015

Series/Report no.

JMIR Mental Health, Vol 2, Iss 1, p e10

Key words

clinical efficacy; counselors; ethical codes; innovation diffusion; instructional technology; mental health; mHealth; mobile health; smartphone

Abstract

The roles of mental health educators and professionals in the diffusion of mental health mobile apps are addressed in this viewpoint article. Mental health mobile apps are emerging technologies that fit under the broad heading of mobile health (mHealth). mHealth, encompassed within electronic health (eHealth), reflects the use of mobile devices for the practice of public health. Well-designed mental health mobile apps that present content in interactive, engaging, and stimulating ways can promote cognitive learning, personal growth, and mental health enhancement. As key influencers in the mental health social system, counselor educators and professional associations may either help or hinder diffusion of beneficial mHealth technologies. As mental health mobile apps move towards ubiquity, research will continue to be conducted. The studies published thus far, combined with the potential of mental health mobile apps for learning and personal growth, offer enough evidence to compel mental health professionals to infuse these technologies into education and practice. Counselor educators and professional associations must use their influential leadership roles to train students and practitioners in how to research, evaluate, and integrate mental health mobile apps into practice. The objectives of this article are to (1) increase awareness of mHealth and mental health mobile apps, (2) demonstrate the potential for continued growth in mental health mobile apps based on technology use and acceptance theory, mHealth organizational initiatives, and evidence about how humans learn, (3) discuss evidence-based benefits of mental health mobile apps, (4) examine the current state of mHealth diffusion in the mental health profession, and (5) offer solutions for impelling innovation diffusion by infusing mental health mobile apps into education, training, and clinical settings. This discussion has implications for counselor educators, mental health practitioners, associations, continuing education providers, and app developers.

주요 내용

 이 논문은 mental health mobile apps의 확산을 위해 정신 건강 종사자들과 전문가들의 역할에 대해 다룬다. 상호작용이 가능하고, 이목을 끌게 만드는 정신 건강 어플리케이션의 개발은 개인에게 인지학습, 정신 건강 증진, 및 개인 성장을 돕는 역할을 가능케 한다. 정신 건강 상담 교사와 전문 협회는 리더립을 활용하여 정신 건강 모바일 앱을 연구, 평가하는 방법에 대해 학생과 실무자를 교육해야 한다. 이 기사의 목적은 (1) 모바일 헬스 및 정신 건강 모바일 앱에 대한 인식을 높이고, (2) 기술 사용 및 수용 이론, 모바일 헬스 조직을 학습하고, (3) 증거를 기반으로 한 정신 건강 모바일 앱의 이점에 대해 논의하고, (4) 정신 건강 전문직에서 모바일 헬스 보급에 대한 현재 상태를 조사하고 (5) 정신 건강 모바일 앱을 교육, 훈련 확산을 촉진하기 위한 솔루션을 제공하는 것이다.

ISSN

2368-7959

DOI

10.2196/mental.3954