By- Minal Agrawal
In today’s time, we find ourselves at a crossroad where different fields like nature, art, technology and mental health merge and pave a new way for the future generations. (Thompson, 2020; National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). As mental health awareness increases, one must wonder if there is any way to apply the knowledge of various fields for the betterment of mental health. The answer, according to me, is yes. Various groundbreaking approaches in technology like artificial intelligence and virtual reality (O’Dell et al., 2022) can provide solutions for mental health issues which are easily accessible, 24/7 available and scalable and on the other hand, fields like nature and art make solutions more friendly and fun.
Virtual Therapy Apps
Everything nowadays is digitalized, then why not therapy? There are already a few mental health apps like BetterHelp, HeadSpace, Moodfit etc, and there are a growing number of apps (Mohd et al., 2023) being built for this purpose. This idea didn’t cross my mind until I started college. My college provided all the students free access to a virtual therapy app which could be accessed anytime and anywhere. I suffer with anxiety but I have never been to therapy because of the stigma surrounding therapy. For the first time in my life, I felt in control knowing that I could get help if I ever wanted it.
Such apps can help eliminate the geographical boundaries by helping people connect with professionals no matter where they live. This helps bridge the gap between places where there is a shortage of mental health services. It also helps in ensuring that people get help within the required timeframe. You can’t know beforehand when you might get a panic attack, but you can seek help immediately by connecting with someone on your phone when you are having one.
Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy
VR Therapy is an upcoming form of psychotherapy which uses visual aids and artificial environments to treat issues like phobias, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and many other psychiatric disorders (Maples-Keller et al., 2017). In case of phobias and traumas, the clients are able to face their fears or traumas in a totally secure environment knowing that they are safe. In a survey conducted on US soldiers, 19% of the soldiers said they were willing to try Virtual Reality approaches for mental health help rather than talking to a person (Maples-Keller et al., 2017).
It helps them master relaxation techniques quicker than when traditional methods are used. It can either be used with traditional methods or on its own. There has been ongoing research to develop more well-powered and controlled studies to compare VR based treatments and other approaches to identify the suitable candidates for the therapy (Maples-Keller et al., 2017).
Art Therapy
Art Therapy contains a wide spectrum of art like music, drawing, painting, dancing, theatre etc. that might be used to showcase and express their thoughts and feelings freely (American Psychological Association, 2018). It is not always easy for a lot of people to express themselves using words, such people often find solace in other alternatives which might be related to one or the other art form.
It has been found that art therapy when used simultaneously with other therapies can help provide emotional support to the clients. (Kern-Pitch, 1980, as cited in Tate, 2002).
This can be true for a lot of people who find comfort in one or other forms of expressive art. It has proven to be helpful in mental health issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorder and PTSD (Regev et al., 2018). Tate et al.(2002) also highlighted that most clients would find it easier to draw a picture of a house or a tree, than to share private information with an unknown person.
Pet Therapy
The earliest use of animals can be traced back to farm animals, but within the last few decades a wider range of species have been used for the treatment of psychological issues (Fine et al., 2019). The first time I heard about emotional support pets when I started college, I thought it was a clever scheme by the students to bring their pets with them in the dorms. I was surprised to learn that pets and other trained animals can help deal with issues like depression, emotional instability as well as anxiety (Cherniack et al., 2014).
A variety of animals like dogs, cats, horses and even birds are used in this type of therapy. In a study conducted on elderly, it was found that people who received animal therapy got a lower score on the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Cherniack et al., 2014). These animals are trained and certified by professionals in the field to ensure that it adds to the well being of the client and the animal too. This type of therapy is also flexible and customizable according to the needs and preferences of the client. It also provides a non-judgemental therapy setting.
Future Perspective
As we walk down this path of mental health, we should embrace all the other fields that complement it. The collaboration of mental health with strategies like Virtual Care Apps, VR Therapy, Art Therapy and Pet Therapy envisions a solution where the concept of therapy is not looked down upon but embraced as a place where creativity and empathy runs free. By exploring innovative solutions combining various fields and innovations, the future of mental health solutions can be hopeful and inclusive for everyone.
References
American Psychological Association. (Last updated in April, 2018). Art therapy. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/art-therapy
Cherniack, E. P., & Cherniack, A. R. (2014). The benefit of pets and animal-assisted therapy to the health of older individuals. Current gerontology and geriatrics research, 2014, 623203. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/623203
Fine, A. H., Beck, A. M., & Ng, Z. (2019). The State of Animal-Assisted Interventions: Addressing the Contemporary Issues that will Shape the Future. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(20), 3997.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16203997
Maples-Keller, J. L., Bunnell, B. E., Kim, S. J., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2017). The Use of Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders. Harvard review of psychiatry, 25(3), 103–113.
https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000138
Mohd, A. D., Maqbool, M., Ara, I., & Zehravi, M. (2023). The intersection of technology and mental health: enhancing access and care. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 35(5), 423-428. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2023-0113
National Institute of Mental Health. (Last reviewed in June, 2023) Technology and the future of mental health treatment. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technology-and-the-future-of-mental-health-treat ment
O’Dell, B., Stevens, K., Tomlinson, A., Singh, I., & Cipriani, A. (2022). Building trust in artificial intelligence and new technologies in mental health. Evidence – Based Mental Health, 25(2), 45-46. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebmental-2022-300489
Regev, D., & Cohen-Yatziv, L. (2018). Effectiveness of Art Therapy With Adult Clients in 2018-What Progress Has Been Made?. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1531.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01531
Tate, Frederic B,PhD., L.P.C., & Longo, D. A., PhD. (2002). Art therapy: Enhancing psychosocial nursing. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 40(3), 40-7.
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/art-therapy-enhancing-psychosocial-nursing /docview/225545216/se-2
Thomson, L. J., Morse, N., Elsden, E., & Chatterjee, H. J. (2020). Art, nature and mental health: assessing the biopsychosocial effects of a ‘creative green prescription’ museum programme involving horticulture, artmaking and collections. Perspectives in public health, 140(5), 277–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913920910443