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Categories Insights Tags Behavioral Health, COVID-19, Cybersecurity, Data Analysis, Healthcare, Information Technology, Mental Health, Mobile Applications, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Telehealth

Mobile Mental Health Apps: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Mobile Mental Health Apps: Weighing the Pros and Cons

By: Randolph Edmead, MS and Laura LaRue Gertz, MSW, LCSW

As symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression are increasing during the global COVID-19 pandemic, people may be exploring technology-based strategies to relieve symptoms and to supplement mental health care. Increasingly, telehealth is a service covered by insurance providers. In addition, many people are interested in using mobile apps to supplement their care, track and improve their symptoms, and take proactive steps to improve their mental health through strategies such as stress reduction, relaxation, and cognitive behavioral techniques. Yet individuals may also be wondering how to evaluate if a mobile app is useful, evidence-based, and will safeguard their privacy.

Technology-based strategies such as mobile apps for mental health have many potential advantages. Technology has enormous capacity to gather assessment and monitoring data that can provide valuable insights about symptoms, useful strategies and could lead to more effective treatment. Technology can help overcome access barriers for individuals with mobility issues, for individuals living in rural areas or areas with a shortage of providers, and for individuals who have been reluctant to seek conventional mental health services. And now, mobile access is even more important as individuals may be simultaneously coping with increased symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression during the pandemic, while experiencing isolation and reduced access to their usual support systems due to physical distancing.

Although there are many potential advantages of mobile apps to supplement mental health care, there are still many barriers and risks, including lack of effectiveness data; challenges with reproducibility, implementation, and dissemination; concerns about the privacy and confidentiality of data and use or misuse of data; and challenges with integration of technology strategies and data into the treatment plan and the health care system. However, there are useful, accessible strategies that can help people assess the safety and usefulness of a mobile app.

The APA App Evaluation Model is an evaluation roadmap to guide informed decision-making in choosing mobile apps in clinical care. The guideline provides a series of questions, organized by levels, that help consumers and providers decide whether to use a mobile app (Torous et al., 2018). This model does not endorse specific apps, but rather promotes a systematic approach to evaluating apps.

The five levels of the APA App Evaluation Model are:

  1. Access and Background: Assesses background information needed prior to evaluation
  2. Privacy and Security: Considers many aspects of app security and privacy
  3. Clinical Foundation: Evaluates any evidence for potential benefits
  4. Usability: Evaluates how usable the app is for the consumer
  5. Data Integration towards Therapeutic Goal: Examines whether the app’s output can be used in a clinically meaningful way

The PsyberGuide, developed through Northwestern University’s Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies with funding from the One Mind Institute, reviews and rates apps that claim to treat mental health conditions. The publicly available guide helps consumers make informed choices. PsyberGuide provides app ratings based on three metrics:

  1. Credibility: Evaluates the strength of the scientific research for the app, as well as the therapeutic interventions provided by the app
  2. User Experience: Uses the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) developed by Stoyanov et al. (2015) to assess the design and user interface
  3. Transparency: Evaluates the clarity of the app’s privacy policy regarding data storage and collection procedures of the app and associated servers

Technology will not replace the human connection that is a central part of the care of individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression. But when technology-based strategies are thoughtfully developed, evaluated, and implemented, they have tremendous potential to augment and expand care, to enhance engagement and treatment, and to improve the quality of life for individuals living with mental health conditions.

Randolph Edmead, MS, Vice President of Federal Government Programs. Randolph Edmead has an extensive background managing large teams in the mental health treatment, substance abuse prevention and treatment, policy, and evaluation service areas. Mr. Edmead has over 18 years of experience developing, implementing, and managing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Centers for Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention programs; providing curricula and training to SAMHSA and health care providers and staff on leading practices, human resources, accreditation survey support, skills development, and cultural competency; and consulting with healthcare organizations and treatment facilities. Mr. Edmead holds a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology.

Laura LaRue Gertz, MSW, LCSW, Public Health Analyst/Scientific Writer. Laura LaRue Gertz has over 30 years of experience in health and mental health, as a clinician, analyst, writer, researcher, and project manager. She developed literature reviews and reports on evidence-based treatments for individuals with serious mental illness for a federal contract with the SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). She has also worked on contracts with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and numerous other U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies. Ms. Gertz holds a Master of Social Work Degree and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) was founded by President & CEO Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., a leading behavioral health expert and former Medical Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Bizzell’s team of public health experts have created and led comprehensive behavioral health prevention and treatment initiatives and education and training programs. Bizzell’s recent work includes systematic, integrated approaches designed to effect lasting change in health and behavioral health care through work with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Defense (DOD). Learn more about how Bizzell advances data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to solve complex-real-world challenges: https://thebizzellgroup.com/

References

Stoyanov, S. R., Hides, L., Kavanagh, D. J., Zelenko, O., Tjondronegoro, D., & Mani, M. (2015). Mobile app rating scale: A new tool for assessing the quality of health mobile apps. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 3(1), e27.

Torous, J. B., Chan, S. R., Gipson, S. Y. M. T., Kim, J. W., Nguyen, T. Q., Luo, J., & Wang, P. (2018). A hierarchical framework for evaluation and informed decision making regarding smartphone apps for clinical care. Psychiatric Services, 69(5), 498-500.

Categories Insights, Mental Health, News Tags American Psychological Association, Behavioral Health, COVID-19, Mental Health, Thought Leadership

Strategies to Reduce Anxiety and Depression During COVID-19

Strategies to Reduce Anxiety and Depression During COVID-19

Written by: Randolph Edmead

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had profound social, economic, and health effects. A recent study found that 56% of U.S. adults reported that worry or stress related to the pandemic has caused them to experience at least one negative effect related to mental health and wellbeing.  Physical distancing to reduce spread of COVID-19 increases social isolation and creates new challenges for individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Some of the most prevalent concerns people have reported about managing during the COVID-19 pandemic are uncertainty about the future, not having control over the virus and its effects, and the economic ramifications of the pandemic. With widespread job loss, and the potential for the virus to cause serious illness and death, these concerns are not unfounded. The pandemic is having a significant effect on those who have not previously struggled with mental health issues, and the effects are exacerbated for those who have. As with other traumatic events, it has taken an exceptional toll on frontline health care workers and first responders.

The American Psychological Association says that it is critical to maintain social support and connections during physical distancing, and that it is important to know the signs of anxiety and depression so that individuals who may be experiencing these challenges can get timely help.

Signs of anxiety include:

  • Persistent worry, feeling overwhelmed by emotions
  • Excessive worry about a number of concerns, general sense that something bad is going to happen
  • Restlessness, irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, feeling on edge

Signs of depression include:

  • Lack of interest or pleasure in activities
  • Significant weight loss or gain
  • Lack of energy or difficulty concentrating
  • Insomnia or excessive sleeping
  • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

One unexpected consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic may be that the increased media attention on the mental health effects of the crisis is helping to reduce the stigma of talking about mental health issues. A new social media campaign through , “How are You, Really?”, aims to decrease the stigma of mental health issues by encouraging people to safely share their stories to show others that they are not alone.

Tips for Staying Mentally Healthy

The Director Dr. Joshua Gordon provides 5 tips for staying mentally healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak, which are timely for individuals struggling with anxiety or depression, as well as for those who are simply looking for positive strategies to cope with the challenges of the pandemic:

  • Avoid using alcohol or other drugs as coping mechanisms.
  • Maintain routines for meals, exercise, and sleep. Try to stay active.
  • Explore wellness programs, like meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises.
  • Stay connected. Talk by phone. Chat outside while maintaining recommended social distance. Join online gatherings.
  • Seek help right away if you have trouble coping or feel overwhelmed.

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) was founded by President & CEO Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., a leading behavioral health expert and former Medical Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Bizzell’s recent work includes systematic, integrated approaches designed to effect lasting change in the field of behavioral health through work with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Learn more about how we develop data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to advance mental health, behavioral health, and other complex-real-world challenges: https://thebizzellgroup.com/.

Categories Insights Tags Conference Services, Information Technology, Thought Leadership

The Virtual Pivot: Transforming Your In-Person Meetings to Successful Virtual Events

The Virtual Pivot: Transforming Your In-Person Meetings to Successful Virtual Events

Written by: Almeda Kyser

Virtual events are the new norm. With travel restrictions due to COVID-19, many organizations are rethinking how they disseminate information, build communities online, and engage users. As businesses rush to transform the workplace to accommodate these new demands, virtual workspaces are growing through the use of innovative digital tools and platforms.

But it takes more than digital products to craft an innovative solution to conferences and meetings in the current pandemic. Pulling off a successful virtual event that effectively brings teams and clients together from across the country or around the globe requires strategy, customized technology, and detailed project management.

Virtual meetings can generate higher participation and engagement than in-person meetings regardless of size, with careful attention to the logistical challenges of hosting an event. The Bizzell Group’s (Bizzell) Conference Management and Logistical Support team developed the following list of best practices to help clients and partners transform their in-person meetings to successful virtual events.

DEVELOP A STRATEGY

Strategy drives the meeting planning process and is the critical element when pivoting to virtual events. It is important to ensure that meeting stakeholders’ perspectives are considered in defining the elements of a successful event outcome, and in choosing the set of virtual tools to deliver that outcome.

  • Set clear goals and objectives for the meeting.
  • Determine which components will be a part of your virtual event: for example, general sessions, breakout sessions, posters, trade show, and networking sessions.
  • Choose a virtual strategy that will help you meet the goals and objectives of your meeting and is aligned with the needs of the audience.
  • Develop a detailed work plan that will create a clear path towards meeting the goals and objectives.

CHOOSE THE BEST MEDIUM FOR YOUR AUDIENCE AND MESSAGE

How you deliver the content is just as important as the content itself. The medium really is the message when it comes to virtual meetings. Choose the medium that best meets your audience’s needs — whether it is a webinar to share PowerPoints with a large group, or a teleconference for your weekly team check-in.

  • Webinars/Video Conferences/Virtual Events
    • Webinars allow participants to join from anywhere and view presentations from one or more speakers. Most webinars allow participants to view speakers with video conferencing, ask questions with chat features, provide feedback with polling tools, and use closed captioning. Since webinars allow you to present live or pre-recorded events, be sure to post recorded presentations to your website
    • To enhance the participant experience and innovate your virtual conference, consider creating a virtual world and use a virtual reality system. 3D virtual event platforms are lifelike environments that best match your event’s audience and mimic the dynamics of a physical conference.
    • There are many tools for webinars and virtual events, such as Zoom, Adobe Connect, RingCentral, Microsoft Teams, Bluejeans, Crowdcast, Intrado, Webex, GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, Google Meet, GlobalMeet and JoinMe. Each offers a variety of tools and features to enhance the overall experience. An experienced Meeting Planner can help you choose the best program for your needs.
  • Teleconferences/Phone
    • Teleconferences allow participants to join an audio call from anywhere. They are accessible through landline, smart device, and computer, making them a good choice to reach a wide variety of participants in multiple locations with varying technology.
    • Many platforms for webinars and virtual events also offer teleconferencing capacity. Check with each platform to evaluate their features and ensure the best fit for your teleconference.
  • Hybrid Events
    • Hybrid events are held for participants unable to travel or attend an in-person event such as town hall meetings, trainings, department meetings or conferences. These events require very high-level video production equipment and online requirements for virtual participants. When successfully implemented, they can offer participants nearly the same experience as in-person attendance.

DESIGN EVERY DETAIL

Maintain a Standard Operating Procedures checklist that can be used and customized across all types of meetings and at every venue, whether virtual or in person. Make this a living document that will guide and develop meeting plans before, during, and after an event, and serve as a record of lessons learned that will track data and drive continuous improvement.

  • Set clear goals for your virtual event and share those goals in your messaging before, during, and after the event.
  • Determine the appropriate platform and technology for your event based on the goals and objectives, and the event components.
  • Design every detail of the meeting, script out every phase in advance, and schedule a dry run rehearsals of all elements including the technology platform.   
  • Always have a plan to prepare for disruptions or glitches that may occur during the meeting. Assign staff to be in charge of managing this aspect of your event.

RECRUIT DYNAMIC SPEAKERS + DELIVER RELEVANT CONTENT

The success of many events is determined by the quality of the speakers. Preview the speakers before the event and check out reviews from their past presentations. Discuss the meeting goals with the speakers and ensure the content will be focused on the needs of participants and the event.

  • Recruit dynamic speakers who present great content that is relevant to the goals of the event. Content is key, and the content and delivery need to capture and keep your audience’s attention.
  • Recruit speakers who are experienced in virtual formats and have an active plan to engage the virtual audience.

MAKE IT INTERACTIVE

Audience engagement is more important than ever in the new virtual environment. Technology offers exciting opportunities to reach participants in new ways.

  • Create an interactive, meaningful experience by incorporating activities like gamification to keep the audience excited about learning.
  • Leverage digital collaboration tools such as white boards to increase engagement.
  • Incorporate creative tools such as Word Clouds and breakout room discussions and have participants report back to the larger group.
  • Include participant polling and chat box responses during the meeting to enhance engagement and invite feedback. 
  • Keep real-time notes of audience discussion, and invite the audience to recap key themes, takeaways, and next steps at key junctures throughout the meeting.

COLLECT AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

Audience feedback after the event is the key to making data-driven improvements. With expertly crafted survey instruments, meaningful insights will increase opportunities for success.

  • Analyze participant polling collected during the meeting, to assess real-time engagement and tracking towards meeting goals. 
  • Design post-event surveys to capture meaningful metrics and drive data analytics, such as speaker feedback, digital platform accessibility, participant engagement, achievement of meeting goals, and opportunities for quality improvement.

With a clear strategy, customized technology, and detailed project management, virtual events offer new opportunities to keep groups of all sizes engaged with focused content and active tools to bring meetings to life. Bizzell has successfully orchestrated webinars, virtual conferences, teleconferences, and hybrid events ranging from thousands of participants, to small groups of high-level decision-makers.

CONTACT US

Do you need innovative solutions and assistance converting your in-person events to virtual meetings? Contact Bizzell’s team of event planning experts to support your conference and event planning needs.

Categories Insights Tags Admin Support, COVID-19, Thought Leadership

Telework Best Practices: Tips for Staying Connected during COVID-19 Pandemic

Telework Best Practices: Tips for Staying Connected during COVID-19 Pandemic

Written by: Almeda Kyser

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has transformed how and where we work. Businesses are rushing to transform the workplace as virtual workspaces become the norm. For the Bizzell Group (Bizzell), meeting remotely from across the globe is nothing new, but recent events have required more creative approaches. Bizzell Vice President for Conference Services, Almeda Kyser shares telework best practices when your only commute is along the internet superhighway.

Find ways to connect collaboratively: Now that we don’t have human, face-to-face interaction we are forced to be more strategic and innovative, Almeda says, and that means we must connect more often –don’t let a week go by without some form of group engagement.

  • Schedule team checkpoints: Add brief, 15-minute, every-other-day remote team meetings into the weekly schedule, preferably in the mornings, to give teams a chance to share project status and updates.
  • Arrange video gatherings: Once-a-week bring teams together with live streaming events for no more than 30 minutes – in addition to recurring department meetings — to give teams the chance to see each other and just check in. These can be informal gatherings that start with work discussions and segue into some fun social time.
  • Keep teams engaged: To break the daily monotony, Almeda sends out trivia polls and questions to keep brains active and teams talking. She also recommends periodic virtual round table discussions, just 15-to-30 minutes in length, on various subjects to keep the excitement going. Almeda plans to implement daily educational webinars for professional development so that teams expand their professional horizons.
  • Use communication platforms: Just like water cooler gatherings of old, it’s important to create an informal gathering space. Almeda employs virtual methods like productivity platforms and real-time instant messaging applications to keep individuals and teams in touch and informed while saving email space for more formal missives.

Maintain work routines: The advantages of working from home include no more running for the school bus or standing in the subway line. We still need to maintain our normal work schedules, Almeda notes, and behave at home the same way we would at the office.

  • Prepare for work: Rise and dress according to your regular routine. It’s also important to heed company guidelines about venues that might hinder productivity by monitoring social interaction while working and limiting social media use (some smart phones are equipped with alarms that help users keep social media time to a minimum). Discipline and consistency in work styles is even more important, now, as we face the prospect of working from home not for just a few days but potentially weeks to months.
  • Meet client needs: Clients look to us to set the tone for meetings, Almeda points out. When video conferencing with clients, maintain professional etiquette and clothing. Before audio conferences, ensure that file sharing applications are in use, but shut down any other computer applications that might distract you. Bizzell is experienced in using several virtual event platforms to customize virtual events for clients, such as WebEx, Adobe Connects, Zoom, and RingCentral. And, we have established SOPs, checklists, and timelines to ensure that Bizzell facilitates a successful event.
  • Use project management tools: Project management tools are integral to our client work at Bizzell, and Almeda encourages using these platforms to manage tasks and deliverables for your internal teams and external clients.

Keeping up morale: Bizzell CEO and senior leadership play a major role, Almeda says, to ensure that the office culture Bizzell has established translates into a virtual culture.

  • Reach out and virtually touch: Almeda anticipates more frequent outreach to address concerns that employees may have now and more efforts to engage with each other. For example, create a theme day on Fridays, when groups can collectively wear a theme color, share lunchtime remotely, or enjoy a virtual happy hour. Be sure to celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries. “We love the human compassion from being around each other – it’s important that we don’t become transitional people.”
  • Send out words of encouragement: Give your team praise and encouragement – let them know you still value what they do, Almeda urges. She did this with her own team during the first week of teleworking by sending out personal messages to reassure them and let her team know they are appreciated.
  • Take care of yourself: It is just as important to care for yourself, and Almeda recommends including exercise in your daily routine. Also focus on your mental health. Take a few minutes to step away from your computer to play a quick game, meditate, for quiet time, spiritual affirmation, or a brief read. Teleworking has allowed for less physical stress and more family time as meals are once again shared at the dining table, she notes, so enjoy the company.
  • Keep policies flexible for now: “This is a learning space for everyone,” Almeda notes, “there will be a lot of trial and error about what works and won’t work for Bizzell.” She foresees that companies will become flexible about telework policies as they reassess the need for office space and utilize available technologies that enable live streaming across locations. “Companies have multiple options for teleworking now more than we did 10 years ago, but it’s important to have a plan B in place.”

Bizzell is committed to continuing exceptional work with our clients during the novel coronavirus pandemic and beyond. We keep these principles values in mind while cultivating our teams during telework, and continuously delivering high-quality, client-centered service: Excellence, Integrity, Service, Innovation, People First, Diversity, Collaboration, and Professional Development.

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a strategy, consulting, and technology firm that designs innovative solutions to help build healthy, secure, and sustainable communities in our nation and around the world. We leverage the combined experience of our diverse subject matter experts to develop data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to the world’s most complex challenges—ensuring our clients achieve their vision and goals. At Bizzell, we pursue meaningful projects that align with our motto: “Our clients drive real-world change. We accelerate it.”  Learn more about how we develop data-driven, research-informed, innovative solutions to SUDs and other complex-real-world challenges: https://thebizzellgroup.com/

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