The Hidden Cost of Technology: Evaluating Both Sides of the Impact of Tech on Mental Health
Digital tools and modern technology are some of the largest cost components that simultaneously improve our lifestyles while reducing our quality of life. Unfortunately, advertising principles and ethical principles don't always align.
Instead, the human cost of digital technologies and innovation is high, even though the daily life of each person has become simpler thanks to digital tools that allow us to remain connected and possibly self-treat the hyper-connectivity symptoms.
Can social media cause depression? Could constant notifications result in mental health disorders? Mental health in Europe statistics reveal that 46% of Europeans suffered from anxiety or depression in the last year.
The European Commission shared mental health and related issues statistics, showing that 3.1 million in-patients were discharged for mental health disorders in the EU in 2021, albeit some suffered from dementia-related symptoms.
Meanwhile, other mental health in Europe statistics show that 85% of individuals agree that mental health is as important as physical wellness. Understanding mental health outcomes related to technology could help adopt a careful consideration of the human cost.
On the other hand, digital interventions could provide cost-effective solutions to improve emotional well-being. The bidirectional relationship is misunderstood. Let's explore the tech cost and discover the possible benefits of using cyber intervention.
The High Impact of Technology on Mental Health and Corresponding Digital Interventions Explained
Digital health intervention is necessary for individuals using technology, developers creating digital tools, employers encouraging employees to use technology in the workplace, and businesses providing virtual services and products.
Let's explore the impact of technology on mental healthcare and consider how mental health intervention with digital tools can help some individuals. Technology may be both the enemy and friend of anyone using it.
Problem: Constant Distractions
Apple claims that the average iPhone is unlocked 80 times per day. The Columbia Magazine suggests that technology complicates the ability to concentrate because it provides endless distractions. Constant notifications, doom scrolling, and the urge to see how many likes the last hamburger image received on Instagram distract you.
Your senses consume more information than the brain can process, impacting your attention span and concentration. The Queensland Government suggests sensory overload is real and can affect any combination of senses. Constant pings, blue light flashes, and engagement urges are constant distractions.
Solution: Leverage Digital Literacy and Mental Health Care Training
Digital literacy replaces technological abuse or sensory overload with mindful usage. A systematic review of digital literacy in South Korea found the four cornerstones of establishing mindful usage, which include training and education to enhance digital literacy, digital thinking, digital competency, and digital skills.
Digital literacy is defined as using technology efficiently for its purpose without causing sensory overload. It encumbers digital skills, critical thinking, ethical interaction, and cultural awareness. Learn how to use technology correctly to prevent the development of mental illness or a frequent need to visit healthcare providers.
Problem: A Lack of Social Connection
Digital tools solve connectivity problems by allowing individuals to socialize and engage with others over social media.
Digital interventions should come with caution because the lack of in-person meetings and interactions may cause a loss of deeper, meaningful relationships. Deep connections aren't possible over social media.
Social connectedness is a human need. A recent systematic review found that digital interventions help people with chronic conditions feel more socially connected.
However, Cambridge University published the truth about the loneliness of the digitally connected. Social media can't replace real connections, creating loneliness.
Solution: Turn Digital Socialization Into Real or "Lean" Connections
The South Korean literature review emphasized a need for digital literacy, which can help individuals and personnel build meaningful connections.
Become culturally aware of your connections with other people and socialize outside of social media while maintaining a healthy relationship with social media friends and colleagues.
Consider hosting regular in-person meetings or "LEAN meetings" as a business seeking to improve social and mental health outcomes.
Warwick Clinical Systems describes LEAN meetings as emergency care, allowing staff to frequently wear different hats and interact in person to generate ideas or simply share information.
Problem: Poor Sleep Hygiene
Poor sleep hygiene has a bidirectional relationship with mental health, often requiring mental healthcare internet- and mobile-based interventions to help digital navigators reduce the costs related to sleep debt.
Depression and sleep - understanding the connection matters as your risk for depression increases tenfold with insomnia.
A literature review of articles shows that the regular use of almost any tech before bed was associated with poor sleep quality.
The cost increased with smartphones and computers used in a bedroom. Late-night tech is one of the largest cost components of poor sleep and bad mental health related to insomnia.
Solution: Turn Screens Off, Listen, and Get a Good Night's Sleep
German experts published research that shows that blue light sets the human rhythm for a sleep-wake cycle.
Watching bright screens late at night or before bed can trigger the awake cycle, preventing the brain from producing melatonin, a hormone that encourages sleep. Turn those devices off two hours before bed.
Alternatively, listen to successful recovery stories from people who battled mental health disorders in the NEON trials.
For example, the NEON-O trial studied participants with poor mental health without psychosis, which included depression and anxiety. Listen to the NEON trials on headphones like an audiobook to relax.
Problem: Rising Depression, Anxiety, and Mental Illness
Mental illness includes bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Mental health in Europe statistics reveal that 46% of Europeans suffered from anxiety or depression in the last year. Fortunately, only 1% of individuals in Germany live with bipolar disorder, while 0.3-1.5% of Europeans have schizophrenia.
Some research suggests that emerging technologies and social media cause excessive isolation, depression, and anxiety.
Other clinical trials examined the clinical implications of technology on people at greater risk of poor mental health, like those with serious mental illnesses. They are more vulnerable to risks beyond excessive screen time.
Solution: Sensible Tech Usage to Monitor and Improve Mental Health
A JMIR mental health qualitative study found that some mental health apps have helped United States people with bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia with symptom assessment, self-management, and remote behavioral sensing to predict relapses.
The qualitative study supports the fact that some digital interventions for depression and other mental illnesses provide access to the right mental health tools that individuals may not have daily access to when symptoms worsen. The right mental health tools help with symptoms and self-management.
Digital Mental Health Intervention for Cost-Effectiveness in Businesses Providing Online Mental Health Services Access
Can digital interventions promote cost-effectiveness for online mental health care? Mental healthcare is necessary, but let's explore whether mental health apps, digital tools, and virtual mental health interventions provide cost-effective benefits.
A research document published by the EU shows that even the slightest mental health disturbance can cause productivity losses in staff. Cost-effectiveness is about replacing the heavy staffing costs related to poor well-being with training costs.
One systematic review in digital health by Buntrock C. et al. shows thatdigital interventions even have promising results for cost-effectiveness in substance use disorders. Substance abuse could include smoking, drinking, or digital addictions.
Employers could replace high staffing costs with the cost of personnel training and access to digital tools to reduce the risk of substance abuse disorders.
Another systematic review showing the economic evaluations of internet interventions for mental health reveals that digital interventions for depression are more cost-effective than CBT therapies and treatment as usual (TAU).
Internet- and mobile-based interventions provide potential for cost-effectiveness. Mental health apps provide an array of mental healthcare at the tips of employee’s fingers. The literature review shows promising results that confirm how mental health apps and online mental health services may be cost-effective.
However, recent articles published by Gega L et al. reveal that more research is necessary to understand the true connection between digital interventions and the impact of technology on mental health before mental health tools and internet-based psychological interventions can be considered definitively cost and health-effective.
Internet- and mobile-based interventions provide affordable alternatives, but there isn't enough evidence to ensure they can improve mental health without proper training in digital literacy.
In other words, employers must consider training costs and the cost of administration to benefit from Internet- and mobile-based interventions.
Leverage Expert Advice on Intervention Engagement in a Digital Program for Training Community and Personnel
We've shared a few tips to combat the impact of technology on mental health. However, organizations can do a lot more to ensure productivity and well-being among personnel, including running a digital program for training community or team members and encouraging engagement support tasks.
Leverage sustainability in employer branding and follow ethical principles. Sustainability includes effective workplace mental health management and covering the cost of personnel training to ensure digital literacy. Speak to our business consultancy experts for advice on intervention engagement or a digital program.
Our go-to-market strategy consulting can also guide businesses through advertising principles that engage staff and community members. Furthermore, provide access to online healthcare providers to help staff maintain mental health. Good mental healthcare provisions on your end will ensure productive and creative employees.
Let Us Guide The Ultimate Solution Because Balance is the Key to Being Productive Without Experiencing Burnout
Our entrepreneurial coaching services can highlight how entrepreneurs and business owners can guide personnel to have a healthier relationship with technology to avoid burnout.
A recent article published by the School of Psychology in Wuhan found that problematic internet use and burnout were closely related.
A digital detox may be the solution entrepreneurs, business owners, and even employees can use to navigate a healthy relationship with tech to become more productive without experiencing mental burnout.
A recent comprehensive review on digital detox found that practicing the new wellness trend has immense benefits.
Our recent publication about digital detox for productivity shows how unplugging can help entrepreneurs experience a truly restorative vacation when needed.
Let’s face it: entrepreneurship requires 25-hour days, and it’s hard to switch off during downtime. Follow our advice to unplug and feel restored to be more productive.
Summing Up the Impact of Technology on Mental Health and the Need for Digital Interventions
Digital navigators are at risk of gathering technological debt but also have the potential benefits associated with internet-based psychological interventions once they adopt efficient digital competency. Responsible technology usage requires training to leverage the skills necessary to transform the debt into benefits.
Training costs can't compare to some of the largest cost components associated with stressed communities or staff members. The cost of personnel training is worth every cent. Contact us today to discuss intervention development costs, the cost of administration, or how to develop modern technology to improve mental health.
