Technology Ecosystems: Rethinking Resources for Mental Health

Current technologies designed for mental health support often have low adoption rates and may not fit people's routines. However, recent literature demonstrates that individuals managing mental illness often incorporate a variety of technologies into their self-management routines, including texting, music, wearables, online communities, games, and social media. Therefore, adopting a perspective focused on understanding the technology ecosystem of mental health management may be a better approach than focusing on singular platforms and applications. In this CHI workshop, we will examine a constellation of digital and non-digital mental health support resources. We will discuss the needs and practices of individuals managing mental illness, how these needs relate to future ecosystems of technologies and services, and the potentials and repercussions of current technologies. By convening a group of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners, we will collectively address these topics to create resources attentive to individuals' lived experiences with mental illness, goals with respect to management and recovery, and interactions with existing forms of resources, care, and technology.