NEW DELHI: Racy modern lifestyles have led to increasing levels of anxiety and stress, but most of us don’t have the time or the means to seek help. A new app can now help people decide how much they are over brink and whether they need any immediate help.
Developed by Delhi-based psychologist and researcher at Columbia University Navya Singh and her husband Ritwik Singh, the app ‘wayForward’ lets users know their exact mental health conditions within 5-10 minutes. It also informs them about how soon they should seek professional help.
The app also tells the person about relaxation techniques and counsels on how to improve relationships and performance at work.
According to global data, nearly 80 per cent of people experience work-related stress, while in developing countries such as India, only 10 per cent receive treatment. The problem in India seems to be the lack of mental health specialists, which is in the ratio of 1:180,000 people. The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare has estimated that one in five people need mental health counselling in India.
“Another major problem is the stigma with mental health diseases,” said Ritwik. He added that during trials in the US, 80 per cent colleges saw anxiety or stress levels drop within three weeks from severe to moderate.
Navya said: “Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to mental and emotional health support at all times. We have created a solution based on scientifically proven techniques, which is available to users through smartphones. Our research in the US has shown that over 80 per cent cases showed improvement in just three weeks. The study also highlighted that problems, such as overeating, sleep disturbances and lifestyle diseases, can be the consequences of mental and emotional health issues.”