Virtual Therapy Massachusetts

Mental Health in Massachusetts at a Glance

Statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for Massachusetts  indicate  that nearly 1.1 million adults in the state – over 16% of the population – have a diagnosed mental health condition. In addition, more than 42% of adults report having symptoms of anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, state youth are on a similar path. The Behavioral Health Barometer for the state  reports  that more than 15% of those aged 12-17 have experienced a Major Depressive Episode (MDE). More concerning, is that over 53% of the 12–17 age group with depression did not receive any care in the most recently reported year. Beyond geographic limitations there are underlying socioeconomic conditions are partly to blame. NAMI reports more than a quarter-million Massachusetts residents live in a community that does not have adequate access to mental health professionals.

Massachusettsans are in need of greater mental health support, and that need is growing with the emergence of a new challenge to the wellness of the Bay State.

Using Technology to Overcome Tech Addictions

Problematic behavior regarding the use of internet technologies is a growing mental health concern in Massachusetts. This is verified by the growth in online search for “technology addiction treatment near me” in Massachusetts. Primary issues include the following:

• Problematic online gambling behavior: Research confirms calls to Massachusetts’ problem gambling helpline increased by more than 120% percent year-over-year from the annum sports betting became legal.

• Problematic use of pornography: National data suggests that 7% of people have an unhealthy relationship with online pornography, equating 392,000 adult residents of Massachusetts.

• Problematic online trading behavior: National studies suggest that 8% of investors meet the criteria for compulsivity regarding online trading. How may this align with the Bay State? Commodity reports that Massachusetts ranks 3rd in the entire nation among U.S. states that are most dependent on securities trading and the investment industry. This suggests an increased call for mindfulness regarding behavioral health and online trading among residents.

• Unhealthy video gaming: Research confirms that unhealthy video gaming is a growing public health concern in the Bay State, with an estimated 8-10% of adolescents and young adults exhibiting symptoms of problematic gaming.

• Problematic online shopping behavior: Capital One reports that Massachusetts consumers are highly active in online shopping, with a nearly 21% higher likelihood to shop online compared to in-store and a more than 16% higher likelihood than the national average to make weekly purchases. While this is not innately concerning, it does ask Massachusetts residents to be more mindful about their shopping behavior due to the connection between microtransactions and mental health.

• Dependencies on artificial intelligence: While more research needs to be done as the ubiquitous use of AI in daily life evolves, early indicators suggest that Massachusetts needs to be more mindful of its dependency on AI.

As a virtual counseling platform, Kindbridge leverages technology to treat all of the above. Counseling specific to each issue are available to any Massachusetts resident with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Click or call to connect right now.

Successfully Treating Cooccurring Issues

A number of mental health concerns are comorbid with technology addictions. Whether you struggle with one or more of these as cooccurring (w/ problem tech use) issues:

Anxiety	ADHD
Bipolar Disorder	Chronic Anger + Irritability
Depression	OCD
PTSD	Substance Use Disorder