Does digital mental health need to rethink user engagement?
In the article the President and Founder of Woebot Health discusses the use of gamification in digital mental health applications and raises concerns about whether the same tactics that drive online addiction should be used to engage users in mental health solutions. It emphasizes the need for meaningful engagement that goes beyond short-term rewards and focuses on emotional, cognitive, and neurological engagement. The article highlights the importance of establishing a transparent and respectful therapeutic relationship with users, similar to the working alliance between a therapist and a client. It suggests that the convergence of social science, psychology, and artificial intelligence can create digital mental health solutions that simulate the bond of a successful human therapist-patient relationship. These solutions aim to make mental health benefits accessible and can coexist with traditional in-person therapy within a holistic healthcare journey.