A new study says spending a few minutes on your smartphone each day can improve your mental health .
In the study , about 100 people were asked to download a group of apps , called “IntelliCare,” from Google Play that were designed to help reduce anxiety and depression.
According to a report published on Jan 5 , in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, after eight weeks of using the apps several times a day , all of the participants reported significant improvements in their mental health .
“Using digital tools for mental health is emerging as an important part of our future ,” lead study author David Mohr , a professor of preventive medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , said in a statement.
The apps “ are designed to help the millions of people who want to get [ mental health ] support but can’t get to a therapist ’s office ,” Mohr said .
The researchers included people in the study if they had symptoms of depression or anxiety based on their responses to questionnaires . After an initial phone call to coach the participants on how to use IntelliCare, the patients were instructed to use the apps for eight weeks , according to the study . The study participants also received two or more texts a week for continued coaching .
IntelliCare included 13 interactive apps , each targeting a different aspect of mental health . For example , the “Worry Knot” app offered users advice to manage their worries. Another app , “Boost Me, ” encouraged users to select and schedule positive activities during their day , whereas the “Social Force ” app prompted users to identify supportive people in their lives and get in touch with them. There were also apps that focused on relaxation, sleep and exercise , according to the study . [ Are Health Apps Harmful or Helpful ? Experts Debate]
The researchers designed the apps “ so they fit easily into people’s lives and could be used as simply as apps to find a restaurant or directions ,” Mohr said.
The participants were re -evaluated for symptoms of depression or anxiety after both four weeks and eight weeks , the researchers wrote . Compared to the average anxiety and depression scores from the beginning of the study , the researchers found scores decreased significantly by the end of the study .
In addition , 35 of the patients no longer met the criteria for anxiety or depression at the end of the study , the researchers found .
Source: Punchng
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