Over recent years there has been an obvious rise in mental health apps and services. They especially took off during the pandemic, and mental health care has never been the same since. With influencers now being sponsored by mental health apps and services, and mental health care generally becoming increasingly expensive, the lines between help and consumerism are starting to seriously blur.
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The validity and credibility of digital mental health services has always been a tricky topic, especially after their increased normality and popularity since the pandemic due to the inability to provide care in person. While these apps and services may be run by a licensed professional, there's also the chance that they're not. Using such resources can lead to teens not receiving the professional help that they may need.
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It's important to remember that the rise in online services isn't inherently bad. It's done a lot of good in terms of increasing accessibility to mental health services. There are various reasons that someone may not have access to mental health services, and online access is a good alternative for people who may have restrictions.
For starters, there is a clear increase in regards to the mental health crisis, but a decrease in mental health professionals and availability. This is causing a lack of openings for patients, which online care could aid with. Another factor is the price of mental health care, and online resources could help people who may not be able to afford such care.
But online resources don't completely solve these issues. Lots of therapy apps and online services are quite expensive and many aren't covered by insurance, making it difficult for people who might not be able to afford care. The type of digital therapy that exists now is also fairly new, which means it's not fully discovered how someone can properly utilize it.
Online help such as VR and chatbots have been found to be mostly beneficial when used in addition to human support. Without the additional human support, this type of therapy is potentially more work since troubleshooting of the apps and constant check-ins are necessary.
Influencer Impact
It's commonly for teens to be drawn to online resources due to how normal it is in our every day life, with things like texting and video chat being a huge part of our social interaction. Numerous studies have been conducted and have shown that teens feel more comfortable with the internet. Access to online therapy allows teens to get help without anyone finding out (if that's something they may be uncomfortable with), including peers and even parents.
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On top of all of these potential benefits, many teens turn to influencers as role models, and with the increase of digital help, many of these influencers are now being sponsored by telehealth apps and services. In terms of mental health, this can lead to many issues, especially regarding impressionable teenagers who may look up to them.
No one who is being sponsored by an app or corporation will give an ad with the disclaimer that online resources should not be used as a standalone. This can cause teens to rely solely on VR and AI chat bots, which can't provide the in-depth support that many psychological topics may require, potentially causing some issues to go unrecognized and untreated.
Commercializing Care
The rise in influencer attention can definitely have a positive impact, raising awareness and educating people about resources that they can use if they don't have access to other types of care, but by doing this, they're also blending consumerism with help. Commercializing mental health care is jacking up prices and making mental health services and medication less accessible. While more people knowing about these resources might seem like a good thing, this is also taking away from many people who may need certain things.
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Some apps and online services have the ability to prescribe medication, and while this could be good for people with geographic restrictions, this could pose a serious issue for others. Prescribing medicines online could not only cause someone to get the wrong medication or a medication that they don't need, but can also deprive someone who may need the medication from receiving it. For example, in October of 2022, an Adderall shortage was announced, and since then, many other ADHD medications have also gone into shortage.
This is partially due to the Drug Enforcement Administration loosening rules about an in-person visit being necessary before being prescribed with a medication. This made it much easier for people to get their hands on medication, including people who didn't actually have ADHD. A therapy app called Cerebral was even under investigation for violations of the DEA's Controlled Substances Act regarding their prescribing of Adderall, showing what a large concern this really is.
Confidentiality Concerns
Privacy is a huge concern with telehealth, with the worry that these apps and services are being used to sell sensitive information to third parties. Multiple apps and vendors have already been investigated for this issue, including BetterHelp, Talkspace, Cerebral, Youper, and Woebot. This is especially concerning because multiple of these apps sponsor influencers that teens watch and look up to.
Vulnerable teens may turn to these apps and websites for help, and their information is being sold behind their back. This is incredibly dangerous for the privacy and safety of every individual using the service, and is a huge factor for the blurring of the line between help and consumerism. It makes people wonder who they can really trust with their sensitive information, since even the resources that are supposed to help and be trustworthy are coming out to be money-grubbing, selling information to other people who might have ill intentions with people's information.
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While digital resources for mental health can be extremely useful for people who may have restrictions that prevent them from receiving care, it's also incredibly important to recognize the potential negatives and to be able to distinguish help from consumerism. Not recognizing these aspects can cause teens to put their trust in something that might not truly be looking to help them, and can also prevent them from getting the in-depth support that they may need.
Always remember that when relying on digital resources, be careful with the services that you choose to go with. Choosing the service that is best for you is key to protecting yourself and your mind.
