PERCEIVED EFFICACY OF MOBILE APPS AS ENABLERS OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT: PRELIMINARY SURVEY RESULTS FROM CHINESE YOUNG ADULTS
RICKY C. LEUNG *
Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, SUNY-Albany, One University Place, Rm 181, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
YIXIANG HUANG
Sun Yat-Sen University, China
SHAO LIN
Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, SUNY-Albany, One University Place, Rm 181, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA and Department of Health, New York, USA
GUANGHUI DONG
Sun Yat-Sen University, China
XIAOXIA QIN
China Medical University, China
JING LI
Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, SUNY-Albany, One University Place, Rm 181, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
HUIBIN GUO
Hebei University of Business and Economics, China
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Chinese mental health providers have begun to consider Internet-based technology, including social media and mobile applications (or “apps” in short), as an economical way to facilitate depression self-management and other mental health interventions. This research examines the perception of mobile apps as potential enablers of self-management and community-based interventions among Chinese young adults. The research recruited more than 300 public health students in Guangzhou, China for a survey research. These participants were asked to answer a number of questions to share their perception of mobile apps. As a new communication technology, mobile apps are able to facilitate self-management and other mental health interventions. However, some patients may be resistant to this new technology. As such, the use of familiar platforms—such as QQ—is useful for promoting mobile apps and social media to help mental health patients in China.
Keywords: Mobile apps, social media, mental health, China