AT Solutions for People with Mental Health Impairments
People with mental health impairments and disabilities may not see themselves as benefiting from assistive technologies, which are typically viewed as helping people with sensory or motor disabilities. But there are AT, especially digital AT, options that can be very useful for people who live with conditions like depression, anxiety, social phobia and other conditions.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), over 18% of all American adults live with some kind of mental health condition.
Mental health conditions can lead to a variety of impairments including:
- Attention problems
- Fatigue
- Slow information processing
- Distractibility
- Impulsivity
- Social isolation
For this population, digital solutions can be very helpful. For example, using a smart phone to set calendar reminders, monitor activity, track medication use, and provide social connection are all ways this common device can provide access to assistive technology. Other items like wearable devices can also provide support and data and lead to increased peace of mind and independence. But AT does not have to be digital. For example, reminders on white boards, journals for writing, and other non-digital AT can be very useful to this population.
If you are interested in learning more about AT for this population, review the presentation, “Assistive Technology for Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions” by Mark Harniss, Ph.D., and Maria Kelley, OTR/L, ATP.