The lead image for this article was generated by HackerNoon's via the prompt "depressed people on a train" AI Image Generator Though COVID-19 is no longer classified as a global health emergency, the spike in that accompanied the rapid spread of the virus hasn’t abated. mental health disorders Following the pandemic, that depressive symptoms grew from a base of about 193 million people worldwide to 246 million, which is about 28%. Anxiety disorders grew 25% from about 298 million people affected to 374 million. studies found Although these are sobering statistics, the rise in mental health conditions has also meant that more people are comfortable seeking support. As a result, there’s never been more demand for health and wellbeing services with the behavioral health market expected to grow to . $105 billion by 2029 And tech innovators continue to develop solutions that address specific gaps in the treatment pipeline, democratize access to treatment such as therapy and provide tools to manage our wellbeing holistically. Detecting signs of depression in new ways is one of the most common mental health conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately are battling depression. And though a range of treatment options exist, the condition can often go untreated. Depression 280 million people in the world This is because the warning signs, such as fatigue or a change in sleeping patterns, and can easily be overlooked, meaning that patients may not even be aware there’s an issue to address. On the other hand, a from the Mental Health Million project found that up to 45% of individuals in the U.S. with clinical-level mental health risks don’t seek support, with reasons ranging from a lack of knowledge of what kind of help is available through to a fear of being stigmatized. vary from person to person report While is already being used to diagnose a range of by using image recognition technology, signs of mental distress don’t appear neatly on an MRI scan. AI cancers with remarkable accuracy However, according to Grace Chang, CEO of , the answer may lie in our voice. Kintsugi “What is really remarkable is that psychiatrists have known that in the area of speech there has always been a tie to depression and anxiety,” she mentioned during a recent appearance on , a podcast from MIT Technology Review. In Machines We Trust Kintsugi has developed vocal biomarker technology with the ability to spot subtle signs of depression or anxiety that lie in the way we speak. The tool is language agnostic, meaning that the software is trained to spot changes in things like tone, speed and intonation rather than specific words or phrases. “Our company has created a robust set of models, not looking at what people are saying, but how they’re saying. We don’t care about any of the demographic information or the context of what’s happening because we’re looking at the nuances to speech that machines can pick up,” Chang continued. Another example lies with Ellipsis Health, which ran an academic, year-long with Menlo College that helped students to measure and manage anxiety and depression symptoms by analyzing their speed using vocal biomarker technology. pilot In the future, AI may become a more standard fixture in mental care pathways as it has done in other areas of medicine. Acting as an additional safety net for clinics, educational organizations and private practitioners, vocal biomarker technology has the potential to help diagnose and provide ongoing care for depression and anxiety. Democratizing access to therapy globally Although choosing to seek help for may be a hurdle for some, access to professional, affordable support is the next barrier that’s being exacerbated by an increasing prevalence of mental health disorders. depression and anxiety Reports suggest that around globally every year due to depression and anxiety, putting huge pressure on local mental health services. For example, Europe is battling a surge in , and in Latin America, with depression aren’t receiving treatment. 12 billion work days are lost demand that overshadows service availability six out of every 10 adults As a result, tech developers are aiming to make it easier to from the safety and privacy of home through online platforms that tailor to specific needs or geographies. access remote sessions from licensed therapists is one of the companies addressing the demand for access to virtual, affordable access to therapy. The founders aim to offer personalized emotional support for their Colombian users with ready, affordable access to over 150 licensed therapists, specialized sessions and emotional coaching and even nutritional advice. Selia Another example lies with German startup , which aims to help improve people’s mental wellness through virtual consultations. The company recently raised funding to expand the availability of its services to more people. HelloBetter €7M in Series A While addressing the demand for mental health services still remains, access to remote therapy is one way that technology is helping to ease the burden during the interim. A new perspective on autoimmune conditions An estimated suffer from at least one autoimmune condition. These develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, causing a wide range of possible conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or celiac disease. 50 million Americans Although autoimmune patients are grappling with a range of often debilitating symptoms, things like fatigue and pain are often “ ” to other people. As a result, the conditions often bleed into people’s personal life and , meaning that up to with autoimmune diseases also experience depression and anxiety. invisible performance at work 50% of patients Many autoimmune patients find that looking at nutrition, sleep and stress management can significantly ease the severity of their symptoms. However, implementing and sticking to a lifestyle change is often easier said than done. is a membership app that provides ongoing access to specialist coaches, comprehensive lab testing and personalized care plans to help more people take control of autoimmune conditions. WellTheory And when it comes to autoimmune conditions like eczema, most sufferers are well aware of how much constant itchy skin can . In efforts to improve the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions like eczema are companies like . The company leverages AI to improve collaboration between dermatologists and patients with a visual skin-tracking app that allows for continuous care, helping to improve overall health outcomes. impact mental health Miiskin Battling the addiction epidemic Untreated mental health disorders often lead to substance abuse as a form of self-medication. While proper, long-term mental healthcare will be needed to address the root cause of the problem, getting clean is often the first step on the road to recovery, yet with a substance abuse disorder in 2022 did not receive treatment. 93.5% of adults offers drug and alcohol rehab options across the U.S. and easy, discreet access to treatment providers that can answer questions and concerns, helping to remove the stigma around addiction. Including residential options, outpatient care, and community resources, the company helps people tackle a range of addictions head-on. Quit Addiction Now In addition to rehab facilities, the company also creates a lot of free digital content and resources for its patients. Just as apps have become ubiquitous with helping us manage numerous tasks in our everyday lives, has also developed in recent years to help manage addiction. application technology Pear Therapeutics’ , for example, is an FDA-approved substance abuse treatment app that maps out a 90-day treatment program for the patient on a cellular app. And , an app created by a chemical dependency counselor educated at Harvard, is designed to help patients in moments of craving. Pear reSET-O Sober Tool Supporting health and wellbeing with innovation While many cases of depression and anxiety are mild, it’s important to address any symptoms directly so that symptoms don’t worsen. An increased awareness of mental health disorders is helping to drive conversations on the topic and encourage people to seek help when needed. Innovative health and wellbeing apps and services that target specific conditions and make it easier to access care will be an integral part of the long-term management of our mental health in the future. This article was originally published by Katie Konyn on 150sec.

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