Virtual Therapy New York

Data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for New York indicates that nearly 3.3 million adults in the state have a diagnosed mental health condition. including chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. This number is more than 11-times the population of Buffalo, the state’s second most populated city. Of added concern, is that about 783,000 New York adults have a serious mental illness, and that nearly one-in-six NY youth between the ages of 12-17 experience a major depressive episode each year. While current reports from Mental Health America (MHA) suggest that New York is ranked as the number one state in the nation for overall mental health care, NAMI indicates that 3.6 million people in NY live in a community without adequate access to mental health professionals. Meanwhile, there is a particular gap for those in need of specialized counseling services – namely those associated with impulsive behaviors relating to digital activities. This is explored in the section below.

Using Technology to Overcome Tech Addictions

Technology addiction is one of the fastest growing threats to public health in New York. Problematic behavior regarding engagement with digital activities (referred to as digital dependencies) has compromised the wellbeing of vulnerable and at-risk residents. These issues include the following:

• Problematic online gambling behavior: Data indicates that about 4.4% of adults in New York fit the criteria of at-risk gamblers. There has been a 26% increase in year-over-year problem gambling-related helpline calls in New York to coincide with the legalization of online sports betting.
• Problematic use of pornography: National studies suggest that up to 7% of adult Americans meet the criteria for problematic use of pornography, which equates almost 1.05 million adult residents in New York.
• Problematic online trading behavior: National studies suggest that 8% of investors meet the criteria for compulsivity regarding online trading. This issue is compounded by the arrival of the new “hybrid” form of online gambling and trading – known as prediction market trading which contains features that mirror sports betting.
• Unhealthy video gaming: National studies suggest around 3-5% of gamers experience issues with unhealthy gaming.
• Problematic online shopping behavior: Statista reports that over 78% of New Yorkers make at least one online purchase weekly. While there is nothing innately concerning about this data, national studies indicate that up to 16% of Americans struggle with unhealthy online shopping behavior. It may therefore be estimated that over 2.4 million New Yorkers could benefit from reassessing their e-commerce experiences, assuming the state mirrors national averages.
• 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 New Yorkers need to be more mindful of their dependency on AI.

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

Successfully Treating Cooccurring Issues

A number of mental health concerns cooccur with technology addictions. Whether you struggle with one or more of these as cooccurring (w/ problem tech use) issues or they are standalone concerns, we will help.

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