Opportunities for technology in the self-management of mental health

Abstract

Mental health is becoming an increasingly pressing healthcare issue on a worldwide level. Chronic mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder are some of the most challenging illnesses to treat and are associated with considerable negative consequences, both in terms of societal costs as well as individual patients' quality of life. Mobile and wearable devices, with their rising ownership levels and sensing capabilities, have the potential to enable more personalized and broadly deployable forms of condition monitoring, symptom detection, and timely intervention. In this workshop paper, we overview our research into the lived experiences and self-management practices of individuals with bipolar disorder, the resultant implications for designing technology-based solutions, and the steps we have taken towards development of such assessment and intervention oriented tools. Importantly, we surface tensions between the opportunities of technology and the potential risks associated with their usage in the context of mental health.