Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities
Internet and mobile technologies offer potentially critical ways of delivering mental health support in low-resource settings. Much evidence indicates an enormous negative impact of mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and many of these problems are caused, or worsened...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425117000115/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156119064674304 |
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| author | J. I. Ruzek C. M. Yeager |
| author_facet | J. I. Ruzek C. M. Yeager |
| author_sort | J. I. Ruzek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Internet and mobile technologies offer potentially critical ways of delivering mental health support in low-resource settings. Much evidence indicates an enormous negative impact of mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and many of these problems are caused, or worsened, by exposure to wars, conflicts, natural and human-caused disasters, and other traumatic events. Though specific mental health treatments have been found to be efficacious and cost-effective for low-resource settings, most individuals living in these areas do not have access to them. Low-intensity task-sharing interventions will help, but there is a limit to the scalability and sustainability of human resources in these settings. To address the needs of trauma survivors, it will be important to develop and implement Internet and mobile technology resources to help reduce the scarcity, inequity, and inefficiency of current mental health services in LMICs. Mobile and Internet resources are experiencing a rapid growth in LMICs and can help address time, stigma, and cost barriers and connect those who have been socially isolated by traumatic events. This review discusses current research in technological interventions in low-resource settings and outlines key issues and future challenges and opportunities. Though formidable challenges exist for large-scale deployment of mobile and Internet mental health technologies, work to date indicates that these technologies are indeed feasible to develop, evaluate, and deliver to those in need of mental health services, and that they can be effective. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:46:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-876614216f4f4aca81ede5cd8ed0f110 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:46:15Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-876614216f4f4aca81ede5cd8ed0f1102023-03-09T12:35:34ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512017-01-01410.1017/gmh.2017.11Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communitiesJ. I. Ruzek0C. M. Yeager1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2419-6370National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division, Palo Alto, California, USA VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA M2 Institute at Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California, USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USAPsychology Department, University Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Trauma, Health, & Hazards Center, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USAInternet and mobile technologies offer potentially critical ways of delivering mental health support in low-resource settings. Much evidence indicates an enormous negative impact of mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and many of these problems are caused, or worsened, by exposure to wars, conflicts, natural and human-caused disasters, and other traumatic events. Though specific mental health treatments have been found to be efficacious and cost-effective for low-resource settings, most individuals living in these areas do not have access to them. Low-intensity task-sharing interventions will help, but there is a limit to the scalability and sustainability of human resources in these settings. To address the needs of trauma survivors, it will be important to develop and implement Internet and mobile technology resources to help reduce the scarcity, inequity, and inefficiency of current mental health services in LMICs. Mobile and Internet resources are experiencing a rapid growth in LMICs and can help address time, stigma, and cost barriers and connect those who have been socially isolated by traumatic events. This review discusses current research in technological interventions in low-resource settings and outlines key issues and future challenges and opportunities. Though formidable challenges exist for large-scale deployment of mobile and Internet mental health technologies, work to date indicates that these technologies are indeed feasible to develop, evaluate, and deliver to those in need of mental health services, and that they can be effective.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425117000115/type/journal_articleLow- and middle-income countries (LMIC)mental healthmobile health (mHealth)post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)technologytrauma |
| spellingShingle | J. I. Ruzek C. M. Yeager Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) mental health mobile health (mHealth) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) technology trauma |
| title | Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities |
| title_full | Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities |
| title_fullStr | Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities |
| title_short | Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities |
| title_sort | internet and mobile technologies addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities |
| topic | Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) mental health mobile health (mHealth) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) technology trauma |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425117000115/type/journal_article |
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