The Challenge: To Transform Mental + Physical Wellbeing
As mental health and physical ability challenges surge worldwide, driven by inequities and modern life's pressures, we face an urgent call to action. How do we meet these escalating needs and dismantle the pervasive stigma and discrimination they attract?
According to a 2020 CDC study, 40% of American adults struggle with mental health or substance abuse issues. WHO data indicates that more than 275 million people worldwide suffer from an anxiety disorder, and nearly as many suffer from depression, costing the global economy one trillion dollars yearly. Their data also show that people with physical disability experience poorer health outcomes, have less access to education and work opportunities, and are more likely to live in poverty than those without a disability. In both cases—and for various reasons—patients are not getting the necessary health care services.
There is an opportunity to revolutionize and improve mental and physical wellbeing using digital technologies and human-computer interaction.
