Written by Hanyu Zhang 2022 Cohort
Content warning: This blog entry discusses sensitive topics related to mental health.
Depression is a significant global public health problem. In recent years, digital media has been increasingly used to tackle mental health issues, possibly due to the pandemic.
Moodgym is an Australian website（https://moodgym.com.au/, developed by Australian National University Health Center. This paid self-service software provides information and skills based on CBT (internet cognitive behavioural therapy) to improve patients’ symptoms. Due to its economic, practical and anonymous use, it has many users worldwide. This website comprises five modules, an interactive game, anxiety and depression assessments, downloadable relaxation audio, a workbook and feedback assessment. Studies have proved that MoodGYM is beneficial in reducing anxiety and depression in adult patients and, improving thinking disorders, reducing personal shame and opposing ideas.
In addition, many websites provide platforms for depression and help depression. Many venues have provided the soil for the creation of depression. Many pictures, music, videos, games etc., related to depression are posted so that no matter how difficult it is for the patients with depression to express themselves fully, others can also learn about the depression group in this way.
Online mental health-related activities such as “Good night, strangers” are also being held. Every night before 11 o’clock, people will receive a good night message. They may share their life events with others, a paragraph of text, feelings about life and learning, and good or bad expectations for the future. This activity allows some people to establish social connections and find a place to talk or listen.
Zoufan is a girl who took her own life because of depression. She left her last words on her microblog. After she left, her microblog became a tree hole, where countless people told their stories and poured out their hearts. Now her last goodbye has disappeared, but all the messages are used to train AI to screen people with high suicide risk and create ratings so that people with intense suicidal thoughts can be identified and interventions are offered in advance.
Meanwhile, some websites established communication channels between the patient and the health care provider. Professionals can also provide knowledge online.
Advantages:
Online mental health intervention saves time and resources and eventually lives. The Internet can be accessed 24 hours a day as the first call in an emergency. For mental care providers, publicity and education can also prove essential. Also, it is helpful to undergo primary data collection, such as gender, age, time of posting, etc., which is useful for further studying depression.