Ask HN: How can tech help with mental health?
I ask this because I'm very skeptical of mental health apps and most of the mental health startups around the scene. Feels like technology is not specially useful to tackle this, more human-centric, issue.
Prove me wrong, what are some examples you have seen of technology being useful to help in the mental health space?
There are probably some one-offs, like virtual therapy sessions.
But... my probably controversial opinion is that on the whole tech is absolutely destructive and net negative for mental health. Tech has incrementally destroyed social systems, degraded human connection, perverted people's perceptions of self and reality, and enabled the expansion of many addictive or destructive behaviors (porn, gambling, etc).
It has also enabled the opposite of those things for many people (e.g. disabled, elderly, lonely)
Maybe as an inferior replacement. I don't see how it can be the opposite for stuff like gambling and perception issues.
According to this paper, talking to AI companions is helping reduce loneliness
"AI Companions Reduce Loneliness" (Harvard Business School, 2024)
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41613513
Finch helped me more than I thought it would. It's nice when I meet someone else who uses the app and I get to add them as a friend.
I don’t know if this helps anyone at all but
https://github.com/tg12/harmonyblocks
I use Music Therapy to treat my mental illness. I listen to the Classic Rock station on Amazon Music.
Which mental illness do you treat with classic rock?