Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women yet 3 out of 4 suicides are by men.
Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women yet 3 out of 4 suicides are by men. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust understands the impact living with a condition or receiving treatment can have on a person’s emotions. It provides specialist clinical health psychologist services as part of its condition-specific teams.
To advance how this support is delivered before, during and after discharge, the Trust has adopted the use of safe and tested apps. Hear Dr Jessica Dean, Renal Clinical Psychologist, explain the dangers of using untested health apps in mental health:
Although more men use fitness apps than women, adoption is mainly by younger men.
Although more men use fitness apps than women, adoption is mainly by younger men, and men of all ages fall behind women in the use of nutrition or self-care apps.
With Men’s Health Week running from 10th June ‘till Father’s Day, this month we’re focusing on health apps that are effective in tackling issues most prevalent amongst men. From keeping a close watch on heart disease, encouraging a healthy diet, to encouraging timely GP visits.
One man in five dies before he is old enough to retire. Health apps enable men to better understand and take control of their health, helping to change this number.
On behalf of NHS organisations, ORCHA tests more apps than anyone else, looking at effectiveness, safety, security and usability. Here are three top scoring apps that are designed to help tackle three issues more common amongst men:
Due to our continual re-review process, all app scores are subject to change. As such, we’d always encourage you to view our app reviews on our App Library, as this reflects Live data and app updates which are continuously changing. Our re-review process ensures that the most up-to-date information for the latest version of an app can be accessed via our App Library.
Mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of age, background or gender.
Mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of age, background or gender. Awareness of mental health is becoming increasingly important as the number of people suffering from a mental health condition also increases.
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 13th to 19th May, and this year focusses on the issue of Body Image. Whilst body image is not in itself a mental health condition, feeling uncomfortable with your body can decrease overall mental wellbeing, possibly leading to mental health concerns developing.
Why is mental health important when thinking about body image?
According to the Mental Health Foundation, “Research has found that higher body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life, psychological distress and the risk of unhealthy eating behaviours and eating disorders.” Body image concerns are fairly common, with just over one third of adults saying they have felt anxious (34%) or depressed (35%) because of their body image (Mental Health Foundation, 2019). As such, it is important to increase awareness of how we can take care of the mental wellbeing of ourselves and others in terms of body image.
How can health apps help?
ORCHA has developed an extensive app library, including thousands of mental health apps, so that everyone can easily access the safest, most trustworthy and effective apps for their individual health needs. If you are struggling with body image concerns and feel that this is having a detrimental effect on your mental health, you might find the mental health apps listed below to be of help. These apps have been scored highly by ORCHA, according to Clinical Assurance, Data Privacy and User Experience. You can click on the name of the app to access its ORCHA Review.
‘MeeTwo’ for Stress and Anxiety: MeeTwo allows users to share their personal experiences safely and anonymously in order to access support and advice.
‘DistrACT’ for Self-Harm: distrACT provides easy, quick and discreet access to general health information and advice about self-harm.
‘Jourvie’ for Body Image: Jourvie supports people suffering from eating disorders, giving them a way of filling out food diaries and developing coping strategies.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, #BeBodyKind, to both yourself and others. You can find out more about the Awareness Week via the Mental Health Foundation’s campaign page here.
If you are concerned about your mental health and need help, click this link for resources that can help. You are not alone and help is available.
Image credit: A Research Guide.
ORCHA’s CEO, Liz Ashall-Payne, was recently interviewed by MobiHealthNews, in which she discussed the health app landscape.
ORCHA’s CEO, Liz Ashall-Payne, was recently interviewed by MobiHealthNews, in which she discussed the health app landscape. Speaking about the many unregulated health apps on the market, Liz said:
“It’s quite a fast-changing landscape of regulation and requirements, and so absolutely we have to support the innovators, but equally, once they’re informed of those requirements, they need to step up.”
ORCHA supports app developers in meeting the constantly changing regulations so that their apps can meet the safest and most effective standards. Liz explains that:
“When we’ve reviewed an app, we contact the developer and we provide them with a report that tells them exactly what they need to do to be able to show clinical effectiveness, along with all the other relevant standards that they may potentially not be adhering to.”
By enabling app developers to constantly improve their apps and ensure they are meeting regulatory standards, ORCHA simultaneously allows consumers and health professionals to access the best apps for their individual needs. You can search ORCHA’s App Finder here.
Read Liz’s full interview with MobiHealthNews.