Prepare your mind with the app February 5, 19:31

While the convergence of the new coronavirus cannot be foreseen, you may suddenly feel anxious or depressed.

Even with corona sickness, how can we work and lead a daily life while maintaining mental health = mental health?

Movements to prepare the mind using smartphone apps have begun in Japan and overseas.

(International Department Reporter Nana Yamada)

Difficult to care with corona

"Good mental health is one of the basics of good health. In the corona sickness where mental health care is most needed, efforts have been cut off. Leaders in each country can save lives. You should focus on care. "

WHO = Secretary-General of the World Health Organization Tedros.

When WHO conducted a fact-finding survey of 130 countries from June to July last year, 75% of all respondents said that their mental health care efforts in the workplace were hindered, and 78% in schools. I found out.

It seems that the decrease in face-to-face communication has had an effect, such as the introduction of telecommuting around the world and the closure of schools.

In addition, 89% of the countries answered that "mental health care is one of the corona measures that the country is working on", but only 17% of the countries have invested enough funds for care. ..

If it's a little earlier ...

In the UK, where mutated viruses are spreading, apps that can care for the mental health of workers are now of interest.

It was developed by an IT startup company called "Unmind".

In Japanese, it means "don't care", which means "I'm sick, and I'll let go of bad thoughts."

CEO Nick Taylor

"I worked as a clinical psychologist for many years, but most of the patients came to the hospital after their symptoms had deteriorated considerably, and I often thought that they would come to the hospital six months or three months earlier. I wanted to incorporate the concept of prevention into mental health care, and I thought that I could train my mind to train my body, so I started a business. "

Menu tailored to your state of mind

When you download the app, you will be asked various questions such as "I have slept well for the past two weeks" and "I have a relationship of trust with others", and users are asked 5 from "Yes" to "No". I will answer in stages.

The questions are designed so that the user does not feel depressed, and is aware of a positive way of listening as much as possible, and can search for the psychological state using six indicators such as "gratitude," "happiness," "fatigue," and "loneliness."

Assuming that your mental health is at 100%, it will tell you what level you are at right now.

Then, depending on the result, the app will automatically suggest exercises such as yoga, music to help you fall asleep, and advice on diets that boost your immunity.

You can also write the mood of the day in the app like a diary, and the content suggested will change according to your state of mind.

Already introduced by more than 100 companies and organizations.

The UK health authorities also recommend the app, which is provided free of charge to doctors and nurses working at the state-owned National Health Service, and some Japanese companies that have branches in the UK have also introduced it. It's called.

The information stored in the app is provided anonymously to the company, so it is possible to check the current state of employee mental health and devise improvement measures as necessary.

Even in Japan, 80% is "stress"

In Japan as well, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on the Internet last September on more than 10,000 people aged 15 and over found that after the spread of the infection, they felt restless and depressed. About half of the respondents answered that they felt some kind of anxiety, such as feeling that they did not exist.

In addition, in a questionnaire conducted by the University of Tsukuba from August to September last year for about 7,500 people, those who answered that they "feel very much" or "feel a little" stress related to the new coronavirus are combined. It reached 80%.

You can talk to a robot

One of the apps that is widely used in Japan is that of a startup company called "emol" headquartered in Kyoto.

There are two features, first of all, in the form of conversation with the character of the AI ​​robot, you can confide your worries and complaints as if you were sending a line to a friend.

It is a device that turns chat exchanges, which tend to give the impression of being interviewed, into fun conversations.

In a study, CEO Chito saw an analysis that "it doesn't exist in the real world as much as possible, and people who look far from themselves are more attached to it," and found a white, round character that is not a real person or animal. I made.

He said he chose white because he wanted to make it as flat as possible without being dyed in any color for the service of recording emotions.

Saori Sento, CEO

"I think it's important to make a character that you love and want to get along with and consult with AI robots even before you do mental health care. I myself lost my mentality when I was in college. At that time, when I consulted with my family and friends, I didn't get the response I wanted. I felt that even if I consulted with people, it would only hurt me, and I might be able to talk to a robot. I thought. "

Low price for young people

Another feature is the price setting that is easy for young people to use.

Other companies also offer a monthly service called subscription, but this company is free for downloading apps and talking to AI robots.

Paid programs have also introduced "pay-as-you-go", for example, a 7-day program for setting future goals is set at 490 yen.

In the program, organize what you failed or could not do while talking with the robot.

It is said that it is possible to work in a calm state, such as by incorporating exercises to adjust breathing in the middle of conversation.

We will also delve into what worked and why.

The number of conversations with AI robots per person in the corona sickness has nearly doubled compared to before.

Not only physical but also mental health

This company has partnered with a major insurance company to conduct a demonstration experiment that proposes necessary insurance based on the content of conversations with AI robots, and in the future, it will be more concrete through the use of the app, such as cooperation with local governments aiming for suicide prevention. I am trying to connect it to the support and effects.

"Mental health is something we have to live with from birth to death. We want to create a society where we can talk more freely about mental health."

The words of CEO Taylor who said so left an impression on me.

It will take some time to converge the corona.

Why don't you review not only your physical health but also your mental health?

International Department Reporter

Nana Yamada

Joined in 2009

After working at Nagasaki Bureau, Chiba Bureau, and Economic Affairs Department, she is

currently in charge of the United States and Europe in the International Department.