I predicted a possible way of Apple implementing Mental health as a journal or quick entry, even evolving it just last week here;
Well laid out. Yet also consider many Accessibility features needed by 'people who might otherwise struggle to use its standard interface for one reason or another' could not just be 'physically' limited but 'mentally' constrained.
example: MS affects motor control thus you'll have difficulty in controlling the interface. Some people are legally blind and not from physical reason (usually but some it's a disconnect somewhere within the cranium). Also consider some are born with challenges that may 'appear physical' in nature yet the root of the challenges is not.
As we begin to understand mental health more (ADD, ADHD, BPD) we'll start to see a connection where mental health needs may also be considered accessibility needs. Those I mentioned in this paragraph, many with severe symptoms LOVE the home button as its a mnemonic or fidget relaxation when using iPhone 8/SE/7/6/6S/5S etc.
We know Apple takes incredible care for accessibility features in all their devices and OS - leaps and bounds further than Android or Windows (to some degree).
While I agree with you, and I doubt mental health will be in accessibility - hopefully you can see some are related. Mental health needs most likely will be part of the Health app (Apple is moving Health to be re-branded Fitness I think).
Cheers.
While this is a great use case you’re doing via third party, and possible what Apple will do in part I don’t think this is the primary goal.
In this day and age of so many diagnosed with mental illness in the western world since Pandemic 2020 (especially amongst youth) .. I think this is more catered to those either experience episodes without their mental health situation or for those unaware they have such experiences.
This could have some algorithms to early identification and help with entries for journal logs. Heart rate, blood pressure spikes while at rest or tracking if certain locations “may” trigger a prompt for a journal entry log.
Maybe quick 3 choice drop down selections that get refined as you go through or not. Then an area for manual text journal or voice to text entry.
Moreover for youth underage say 19/13 with parental controls enabled could help alert a parent - maybe engage an FaceID call for certain peak thresholds when reached. Should the parent be in a meeting at work then a trusted health care pro or friends or kids help line.
Someone on twitter requested a great feature where FaceID calls just ring untill hung up or unanswered so why not have a FaceID visual voicemail recording!? In the above paragraph brainstorm to have (corrected by removing: I have) THIS would be bomb! Something not shareable to protect a child’s trust and identity. This would go to help a child within parental controls have their own control - a real life growth lesson which is great.
In South America I’ve heard youth before 13 already have their own psychologist. And it’s perceived normal and to not have one it’s viewed as insanity. Polar opposite to the western world. Very interesting.
Details of my brain-storm from last week in the second quote above underlined were not matched nor detailed but something further down the line could be implemented.
This was after being super skeptical months ago when it was first accounted.
Mental health mental shmealth
Hmm. Kinda ignorant, as most people in the western world typically are about mental health. Many believe the 'stop whining' yet as we've seen silence and lack of communication can lead to some dire consequences that many others pay the price for.
Not related to mental health:
Your daughter has nobody to talk to about her sexual urges or encounters with guys in high-school and wants to go all the way. Parents or other family doesn't talk. 3months or 5 months later she cannot hide the bump. Guy has moved or his parents kept quite moved etc, Guess who's to deal with a pregnant daughter with grandkid on the way?
Now consider mental health from a kid emotionally connected and emotionally super sensitive. Too much bullying today, in the USA leads to a high school shooting. Let's pray nobody's kids are at such a shooting on these boards. When I was in Gr 5 bullying was normal - I hated it. 1 kid loved to show off how great his WWF grip was (think Ultimate Warrior against Iron Sheik). I was in his grip. I couldn't breathe. I had train-track metal braces on (the is early 80's). Almost passing out I bit him - REALLY HARD. Passing out momentarily I didn't let go - or couldn't because of my braces I'm really not sure.
I met the guy just 4 years ago, high school get-together with a few friends, all the age of 46. I didn't remember until at a VERY lively bar he jumps up and shouts 'And YOU ... you damn Tasmanian Devil! You BIT me! You SCARRED me for life!' and lifted his shirt. Now a 10yr olds mouth isn't big to cause bit marks. But when you get older they spread out. CLEAR as day each of my teeth bite shapes were imbedded into his side gut. The entire bar was silent for an aching moment. 'Dude you actually remember that?! I'm sorry but man I tried tapping out an couldn't' breath my face was in your gut smelling your flesh what else was I to do being bullied" entire bare LAUGHED. We all did and all forgiving. It could've been worse.
Our Gr 10 teacher had long talks with me to deal with my anger then. Didn't work until the final bully Gr 7 - broke his notes in 2 places all from watching uppercuts of Heavy-Weight and Middle-weight boxers with my dad. Judo classes wasn't gonna work against 8 guys. That uppercut changed their minds.
At 21 at a bar one of those old middle-school bully's tried to start **** with me and his new crew against me at a pool hall with 2 of my friends. That pool stick came half an inch of his nose so quick he didn't even get 1 step from standing still after his verbal threat! He pissed his pants before I was told to leave a banned.
Bullied kids don't play games the older they get. Bullying causes mental health issues.
DEFINITELY Good!
BPD is the toughest to diagnose and even harder to treat! I don't think Apple has BPD in its radar just yet.
Still this is a GREAT start.
Same rhetoric was stated when ScreenTime was pushed by one of Apple's largest investment funds leader. At first I thought really we need this? Why can't parents do their jobs?!
Because the majority of students influences after Gr6 is from their peers NOT from their hard working parents. Those that are wealthy are even MORE absent. Thinking giving expensive gifts will guide and glue their kids to their every word yet it ONLY increases the issue.
Lack of maintained and structured communication amongst home and core family members is what lead to super sensitive gen Y and Z's that believe everything belongs to them - just like the baby boomers that were handed everything in a blanket of pure assurance and security.
Today's society has many mothers working 8-6 just like many fathers do.
They all go a mortgage to pay off as the saying goes.
When your kids gets beat to hell or sexually assaulted seems that ONLY THEN will most parents in western world will get involved.
That or if the kid plays in a band with the same instrument as one parent or in a school team sport as another with possible nationals competition! or lil-girls are dressed up like super-models with 80/90's glam-rock big-hair to perform in some nut-crazy beauty contest: they're just 4-8 yrs OLD!!! GROSSS!
(notice that Varsity Jackets are NO LONGER a thing?!)
yeah BIG possibility for mental illness to develop so if mom's and dad's are not fulfilling their roles somebody has to!
Ugh. These doesn’t seem good for mental health IMO. Just makes people more narcissistic.
Maybe ... but it's better than the alternative:
gone un-diagnosed,
lack of communication - even if not mental illness some youth really need an outlet to communicate to - especially if they don't fit in.
I sincerely hope this does NOT lead to rapid diagnosis of anything.This really needs to be carefully thought out by Apple - if not could lead to a MAJOR lawsuit I don't think EVEN their lawyers are ready for.
its a good move, but careful baby steps with implementation.
