Self-service Kiosks for Mental Health Support & Awareness
Mental health has become one of the most pressing public health-related issues of our time.
There is a growing awareness for sure – we get to see discussions on mental health issues across various platforms like TV, podcasts, social media, YouTube etc. We often see useful conversations, and medical health-related contents offered by medical professionals and psychologist across various online platforms. Even then, for millions across the globe, getting the help at the earliest remains a distant hope. Social taboo, fear of judgement, and lack of access make the matter worse. And therefore, seeking genuine help of some sort becomes almost impossible.
That’s where the mental health Kiosk steps in. A silent, ready to help, mental health support platform which is available 24/7.
Accessible, Anonymous, Immediate – to put them in 3 words. These machines are designed to break down the wall that keeps people from reaching out. These self-service kiosks for mental health offer a safe, private space for anyone in need. Whether you are experiencing some form of anxiety, stress, or simply need guidance from a professional, help is just a few taps away! No judgement, no waiting!
This blog lets you know the features and benefits of these mental health screening kiosks, including the best places to deploy them. Stay tuned…
Why public access to mental health support is important?
October 10th of ever year is considered as World Mental Health Day.
It is estimated that one in every 8 persons in the world has a mental ailment.
When you put this in numbers, 970 million people in the world have some sort of mental illness. (2019)
And the most alarming aspect is that a significant majority of this population does not have access to quality mental health care.
“The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.” – WHO.
Panic attacks, episodes of stress and mood swings, emotional breakdowns can happen anytime, for anyone irrespective of the economic or social status. Be it in a mall, airport, workplace environment, college or even at a public space – it’s always advisable to seek medical support or guidance at the earliest.
Common hindrances
- Mental health taboo – Getting judged or the social stigma prevailing around mental health conditions often keep people away from seeking support.
- Overworked systems – the mental health support systems are already exhausted.
- Lack of immediate support – Traditional helpline support numbers, most often, do not offer immediate support.
- Lack of Anonymity – Anonymity-related issues, many a times, keep people away from face-to-face interactions.
What is a Mental health Kiosk?
Mental health kiosk is an interactive kiosk terminal that offers various mental health-related services to individuals, ranging from basic wellness check-ins, self-service mental health assessment tools, to appointment scheduling and virtual counselling.
These mental health screening machines can be deployed in a wide range of high footfall settings like transportation hubs, educational institutes, corporate environments, etc. These interactive terminals offer a high degree of accessibility to mental health-related services so that someone in crisis or distress can seek immediate help.
Features of mental health kiosk machines.
Mental health screening kiosks are meant for ease of access, utility and privacy. And their features are listed below.
- Self-assessment – Users can access health-related questionnaire like Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ – 9) and provide answers to every question in an interactive manner. The PHQ -9 questionnaire is confidential and help users evaluate their mental health status.
- Breathing exercises – During times of stress and anxiety, users may make use of guided breathing exercises to relax. Guided breathing exercises help users to bring down their anxiety levels and remain in control.
For example: Exercises like counting inhalation and exhalation help to shift the focus from worries and anxious thoughts assisting the user to be in the present moment.
- Mood tracker application – Helps to track the mood of the user based on questionnaires, interactive graphs etc.
For example: An Emotional wheel or the Feelings wheel displays various human feelings or emotions like Happy, Sad, Disguised, Surprised etc. in the form of concentric circles and expands into further sub-categories. This helps users to pick the exact emotion they are going through and help them understand the real-time emotional status.
- Educational content – the user gets access to bite-sized content related to mental health like how to cope up with anxiety, anger management, sleep hygiene, mental heath nutrition etc.
- Scheduling Virtual consultations – if the user feels medical or physiological intervention is necessary, the person may book an appointment with a registered mental health practitioner and seek support through video chat facility.
- Multilingual support – the kiosk terminal offers multiple languages so that users of diverse nationalities can pursue self-service mental health check-up with ease.
- 24/7 Helpline support – With a single tap, the users can connect with the local authorities to address matters of deeper concerns like theft, crime, etc.
Where to deploy a mental health kiosk?
You may deploy a mental health screening kiosk in all high footfall regions where people come in large numbers. These machines are highly versatile and can be customized for a variety of environments, some of them are mentioned below.
- Schools, colleges and universities – helps students deal with stress, anxiety, exam fears, bullying etc. and serves as a self-service counselling platform.
- High footfall public spaces – for general public, hospitals and pharma companies may invest in kiosk machines for the purpose of branding.
- Premises of government institutions – for public mental health awareness, and mental health support
- Airports, transit hubs – air travellers can make use of the kiosk machines to alleviate flying-related anxieties and fears.
- Corporate environments – helps in dealing with employee wellbeing like burnouts, anxieties, stress etc.
- Malls – helps visitors and tourists track their mental health in their free time.
- Shelter homes – offer mental health support for the vulnerable population.
- Military bases – help military personnel and officers check their mental health, deal with conditions like PTSD etc.
- Disaster zones – offers coping tools and guidance for people who faced wars or other natural calamities.
- Large retail outlets and call centers – supports mental wellbeing of retail and call center employees who face difficult customer interactions on a daily basis.
- Events and conferences – Help delegates and attendees deal with anxiety and stress-related issues when installed at large events and conferences.
Benefits of Mental health Kiosk
The benefits of interactive mental health screening machines are listed below.
- Create mental health awareness – Hospitals, NGOs, government organisations and other healthcare institutions may come up with their own mental health kiosks at high footfall regions. The initiative helps to create mental health awareness among the public.
- Anonymity attracts users – the anonymity aspect of the self-service mental health kiosk offers enough privacy to the users so that they don’t feel being judged by another person. The same anonymity factor helps them explore their feelings and state of mind by avoiding face-to-face interactions.
- 24/7, convenient access to mental health – the users can access the kiosk machine at their most convenient time without having to wait in long lines or booking appointments in advance.
- Get rid of the mental health taboo – Just imagine the situation in which a mental health kiosk is easily accessible, just like a banking ATM machine. If people perceive that mental health is something common and they can seek help whenever they need – it helps to reduce the mental health taboo to a great extent.
These self-service kiosk machines when deployed at strategic locations like colleges, universities and malls, help young adults to prioritize mental health. Most importantly, the students and youngsters can access these kiosk machines with anonymity and peace of mind, without being judged.
- Mental health data and trends – The user activity, preferences, likes and dislikes, queries and other interactions present valuable data to the mental health providers or healthcare institutions. The anonymous usage statistics indicate mental health-related trends and offer useful insights related to the society or certain cross-sections of the society. These trends and insights help medial care givers, professionals and even governments better intervene in matters related to mental health.
- Video conferencing for additional assistance – Mental health kiosks are integrated with video conferencing facility. In case, the user needs to communicate with a registered psychologist or counsellor, the person can easily connect with a live medical agent through video chat. This is an added facility, intended for those who require an immediate psychological or medical intervention.
5 ways to improve mental health
Most of us are aware of physical fitness, and even take steps to remain fit like engaging in physical activities, going to gym, or early morning jogging routines etc. But, mental fitness is also equally important, and we tend to overlook this aspect. Try, the below-listed proven strategies to improve your mental fitness.
1) Socialization – Connect with people that share your vibe, your interests, and dreams. It helps you with vital emotional support and creates a sense of belonging too.
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn present excellent opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals.
Once in a while, call your old friends to have a friendly chat. And, if possible, make face-to-face interactions.
2) Learn new skills – learning new skills and even upskilling can improve your confidence and self-esteem. It also helps you to connect with other individuals who share similar skills and aspirations.
Remember, learning is not a one-time process, but a life-long process.
3) Engage in physical activities – Engaging in physical activities not only helps to improve physical fitness, but it also helps to improve mental state of being, claims studies.
Engaging in physical activities can boost your body’s natural pain-killer – endorphin and helps to relive stress and worries, reports Mayo Clinic.
It is said that every individual should undergo at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity per day to remain physically fit.
4) Learn the mindfulness game – Live in your present moment instead of dwelling in the past or worrying too much about the future. Mindfulness help you to understand your body, your feelings and thought process. It helps you change your perspectives about life and deal with challenges.
To learn more about mindfulness, please visit the Mind website here.
5) Make “Giving” a way of life – the act of giving can create a send of purpose in individuals. It’s not about money, but the act of kindness or the helping-mentality and the feeling of genuine care for others that really matter.
Being part of a charity campaign, volunteering for a genuine cause, or offering a small help or assistance to someone you know or even a stranger can make a positive impact.
I would like to quote the famous quote of Helen Keller here – “The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves”.
Conclusion
Mental health is a universal human right. Governments, mental health professionals and even an ordinary citizen have so much to do in connection with improving mental awareness.
The self-service kiosk for mental health offers the right mix of accessibility and anonymity to the user creating a safe, secure and comfortable mental health support experience.
By placing mental health screening machines right where people live, work, study, and commute, we create a more compassionate and inclusive society. A society that proclaims, “You are not alone,” even in the busiest of public places.
At Panashi, we believe in engineering kiosk solutions that not only satisfy functional requirements but also vital human needs. And, our kiosk machines are widely known for their unparalleled performance, scalability and customization benefits.
Get in touch with our designers and creative talents to know more.
