Mental Health problems worldwide are on the increase, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that around 450 million people worldwide will suffer from such a problem. Within the United Kingdom 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental health problem throughout their lives. Illnesses such as depression are even taking over the top spot of illnesses worldwide, even looking to beat cancer as the most prevalent illness. Illnesses such as depression can also have an effect on the body leading to health problems such as obesity, anorexia and additions (such as alcohol and drugs). There are many mental health problems such as phobias (e.g. fear of spiders), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) (which can be diagnosed in teenagers with low attention spans but can also effect adults) and Schizophrenia (hearing voices or/and seeing non-existent entities). Treatments can range to medication (such as anti-depressants, for example Prozac, which release Serotonin into the brain to help relax it), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (which uses psychological techniques to change their way of thinking), counselling and/or exercise.
….read the complete story ~ http://issuu.com/onlinetherapyinstitute/docs/tilt_issue5_final?mode=window&pageNumber=40
This article first appeared in the May 2012 issue of TILT Magazine ~ Therapeutic Innovations in Light of Technology.
Dr David Haniff has worked as a Researcher at the University of Birmingham (UK), Loughborough University (UK) and the Open University (UK). He has published over 20 publications in Journals and International Conferences. In 2009 he founded the ‘Pervasive Technology Lab (CIC)’ (http://www.pervasive-technology-lab.org) a non-profit company looking into the use of new technology to help people with mental health problems. He is based in Milton Keynes, UK.
