How Digital Therapeutics can Turn Media into Mental Healthcare

America's mental health crisis is showing no signs of slowing down, underscoring the urgent need for accessible treatments. While innovative technologies are employed in mental healthcare, maintaining patient engagement can be challenging.This is the promise of a new biofeedback software development kit created by DeepWell DTx. The digital therapeutics kit, which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in early September, can transform new and existing media products, such as video games and movies, into digital mental health therapeutics. As a result, access to mental health support could be significantly expanded.Expanding access is critical as more than one in five American adults live with a mental illness, according to the CDC. In fact, American's mental health concerns have grown since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 2024 survey showing that 65% of 2,000 U.S. adults acknowledged concerns about their own mental health or that of a family member or friend, up 15% points from 2020.

Medigy Insights

Amid the growing need for mental healthcare services, the country is facing a mental health provider shortage. Advanced technologies are increasingly employed to manage this imbalance between the demand for and supply of mental healthcare.Research has shown that digital health applications targeting depression and anxiety symptoms can support patients who are having trouble securing initial mental healthcare appointments. Digital therapeutics, which are evidence-based, clinically evaluated software and devices, can also deliver mental health treatments in lieu of in-person care.The new FDA clearance adds another tool to the digital care toolbox to combat this issue.

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