Writer: Nuttawut Kulkaew

Editor: Wittaya Wonglor

1 billion people now suffer poor mental health.

Mental health is no longer a personal or community issue. It affects national policy too because mental health issues affect economic potential. Research in the United States from 2008 to 2014 found a 1.84% drop in per capita income from a bad day each month, costing $53 billion per year. Community mental health services should be another approach for public welfare to solve mental health problems.

Access to real-time mental health information is also important. Sensors and wearable devices such as smart watches can now detect important health data, such as appetite, mood, sleep habits. The ability to detect issues with this information is driving the smart watch market, set to hit $96.3 billion by 2027 with a growth rate of 19.6% in 2020-27.

The Dubai Future Foundation predicts that by 2050 governments will connect to people’s mental health data through neural and hormonal signals. Cognitive neuroscience endocrinology and materials science including human-robot technology will enable this, with data science and smart home and city technologies. Health problems related to neurotransmitters such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's will be displayed on real-time state channels to help make public policy decisions. Government agencies can be alerted, for example, to address significant depression in a specific community. Access to in-depth health information will not only help improve well-being. It’ll also builds confidence that the government really values people.

Implications for the future:

- Citizens will question governments and be concerned about the privacy of their access to health data from wearable devices that are almost always connected to the internet.

- If the government lets private companies access such health information, it should clearly set the boundaries in access and use for commercial purposes.

- Citizens and governments may be exposed to cybersecurity threats such as hacking, distortion, and data falsification. This is especially true when public health data is used for analysis and policy decisions.

- Smart home and city concepts such as access to green spaces will play an important role in linking people's health data with urban lifestyles to help the government understand the overall picture and impact of the urban environment on physical and mental health.

References: 

- https://www.dubaifuture.ae/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Future-Opportunities-Report-TheGlobal50-English.pdf

- www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730120359

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