From mobile mental health to mobile wellbeing: opportunities and challenges
Gaggioli, A.; Riva, G.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics 184: 141-147
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0926-9630 PMID: 23400146 Document Number: 664586
The combination of smart phones, wearable sensor devices and social media offer new ways of monitoring and promoting mental and physical wellbeing. In this contribution, we describe recent developments in the field of mobile healthcare (or mHealth), by focusing in particular on mobile mental health applications. First, we examine the potential benefits associated with this approach, providing examples from existing projects. Next, we identify and explain possible differences in focus between mobile mental health and mobile wellbeing applications. Finally, we discuss some open challenges associated with the implementation of this vision, ranging from the lack of evidence-based validation to privacy, security and ethical concerns.