JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Technology can play an important role in supporting mental health. Many studies have explored the effectiveness, acceptability or context of use of different types of mental health technologies, but few have focused on technologies selected by users themselves. Moreover, existing research tends to investigate a single type of technology at a time rather than exploring a wider ecosystem that people may use. This narrow focus can limit our understanding of how we could best design mental health technologies.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to investigate which technologies (smartphone apps, discussion forums and social media, websites and online programs) people use to support their mental health, for what purpose, and which features they find the most valuable, both overall and as part of each type of technology.

Methods:

We conducted an online survey to gather responses from members of the public who use technology to support their mental health and wellbeing. The survey was advertised on social media and via posters at a university. It explored usage patterns, frequently used features, and engagement with technology. To gain deeper insights into users’ preferences, we also thematically analyzed open-ended comments about each technology type and suggestions for improvements provided by the respondents.

Results:

In total, 102 participants completed the survey. The majority of them (81/102, 79.4%) reported using some sort of technology to support their mental wellbeing, with 61.8% (63/102) using smartphone apps. Each type of technology was used for specific purposes: apps provided guided activities, relaxation and enabled tracking; social media and discussion forums allowed participants to learn from the experiences of others and to use that knowledge to understand their own situation; and online programs and websites helped to find out how to deal on a day-to-day basis with stress, anxiety, etc. On the other hand, 20.5% of participants (21/102) reported never using technology to support their mental wellbeing, mainly because it never occurred to them to do so or because they would not feel comfortable. The analysis of open-ended responses showed that many people did not see technology as the substitute to face-to-face therapy. They also wanted technology to be more sophisticated and nuanced to support them better, and often mistrusted it and its content.

Conclusions:

People use different types of technology to support their mental health and each serves a specific purpose. While mixing and matching different sources of information and support is common, overall people want technology to be more nuanced and personalized, to help them plan informed actions. Future interventions should explore the use of multiple technologies and their combined effects on mental health support.