Written By:  Steven Randazzo

I have just returned from the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas where I had the opportunity to listen to and interact with some of the great minds in web and new media.  When discussing new media, health care (let alone behavioral health care) is not often the first thing that comes to mind, but after attending SXSW it was quite apparent that new media has a role to play in the behavioral health care field.

Before discussing where new media fits in with behavioral health; first a couple of overarching themes from SXSW.

• First, use of mobile technology is on the rise, which is not a surprise being that 85% of Americans 18 years of age and older own a cell phone[1].  Mobile use is not just focused on text  messaging but on using the internet on mobile devices; the development of applications whose functions range from paying your bills; aggregating information; locating a person who knows CPR or giving you a reminder to pick up milk when you get to the grocery store.
• Next, gaming and the use of game theory and mechanics was a prominent theme this year at SXSW.  Game theory refers to the idea of making everything a game, with people being incentivized to do something and then rewarded once completed.  Additionally discussed was the move from strictly platform games (computer) to the increased use of social games (games based on Facebook or other social networking sites). The idea behind social games is to make gaming (once looked at as a solitary activity) into a more social experience.
• Lastly, open data was a huge theme this year.  The Federal government (data.gov), including the Health and Human Services Department (healthdata.gov) have launched, as part of the Open Government Initiative, websites that make government data and available for viewing and download.  With data being available for download, the federal government is encouraging the private sector to use it and develop applications and innovation from the data.   The Federal government isn’t the only player in opening up data. Some states are opening up data to better serve there constituency.  For example, the Texas Comptroller opened up data to show where unclaimed property is in the State and have had more success in reuniting people with his/her property.

So where does new media factor in with behavioral health?  During two sessions at SXSW, specifically focused on behavioral health, it became apparent that new media provides tools to help mental health consumers and people in recovery.  Some of the current uses of new media that are widely utilized include forums to link people together to discuss and support people’s individual experiences.  There are other possibilities for new media in behavioral health, possibilities such as using games to promote behavioral health; to educate people on prevention; or as a tool in the treatment of depression.

Additionally, the behavioral health community has only dipped a toe in the water when exploring the use of mobile devices.  The possibilities when using mobile devices include treatment locators, mapping functionality, geo-location resource finders, geo-location automatic alerts, and group texting.  The new media tools available now and in the future open up an array of possibilities for those in the behavioral health care field.

Lastly, one striking takeaway from SXSW is that there is a real risk not to innovate. We can save lives with new ways to lead and use technology.  In order to keep improving treatment and services to the people who need it most, the behavioral health community needs to continue to move forward with the rest of the health care field.  Innovations in health care, such as a more pronounced use of mobile or using games for treatment is an essential piece of improving quality, access, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.  While this is new ground for the behavioral health care field, it is important to keep opening up data and exploring new possibilities for innovation.