After the pandemic, mental health is finally receiving the attention it deserves. People are now talking about it, and many are seeking professional help for their concerns. While we still have a long way to go, we must count our wins and acknowledge the fact that the stigma surrounding mental health has been shaken to the core. And technology has played a big role in bringing forth the mental health revolution. 

Here, we may be tempted to ask, how will the blend of the two look like in the years to come? How will tech platforms affect our mental health and how counseling sessions take place? We asked these questions to a few MedTech experts and counselors who will be attending upcoming healthcare events in Dubai such as the Health 2.0 Conference. Here’s what they predicted: 

Driverless cars will help people make time for counseling 

With self-driving cars becoming a reality, people who couldn’t find the time for therapy sessions will be able to use their commute time to unload their thoughts and talk with therapists. However, since these interactions will be mostly virtual, clients will have to walk the extra mile and seek out reviews of professionals to keep themselves safe from fakes, frauds, and scams. In addition to this, they can also read up about the professionals online before committing themselves. 

AI chatbots as counselors 

Given the pace at which AI technologies are being developed, the time is not far when we receive therapy from a chatbot designed explicitly for the purpose. Of course, AI chatbots can never take the place of real humans. However, these can serve to be entry points through which clinics can decide which therapist they should direct the client to. In addition to this, such chatbots can be especially helpful when people simply want to talk or know whether they should seek the help of an expert. 

Apps to detect your mood

While this is not a new trend, experts believe that mood-analyzing apps will become even more popular. These will be equipped with the latest AI algorithms and help users connect to professionals, should they require guidance. At the same time, such apps will also contain tips on how people can enhance their mental well-being. 

Cyber addiction will become a cause of concern

With people spending hours online, the digital world will affect how they see themselves as well as their relationships with others. In fact, therapists will have to equip themselves with the skills to help a deluge of clients looking for social media deaddiction programs when we completely get past the pandemic. This is primarily because most people have been acclimatized to being connected online all the time. 

These are just some of the issues and opportunities that tech will bring about in our lives and affect our mental health. To meet with experts and activists and discuss solutions to mental health challenges and how we can help people develop coping strategies to deal with everyday stressors by tapping into the potential of next-gen tech, do visit upcoming healthcare events in Las Vegas and Dubai in 2022.