Is This The Future Of Mental Health?
Women's Health Australia|July 2019

Coming soon: a new wave of wearables promising to track our headspace as easily as our steps

Jo Hartley
Is This The Future Of Mental Health?

You’re rushing to the bus stop, aware the 442 you’re catching is due to arrive ... oh, a minute ago. You had a shitty night’s sleep and left your toast in the kitchen. You’re mentally running on empty, but barely realise as you squeeze onto the next bus and go over your to-do list. Then the watch on your wrist pipes up, like a well-timed call from a friend, telling you to look after yourself. It sounds too intuitive for tech, but that time isn’t far off...

Smartwatches that monitor physical health aren’t new (hand up if you’re wearing a fitness tracker), but, as technology evolves, wearables are painting a bigger picture. Data isn’t only looking at our bodies, but also our minds.

What we’re talking about here? Biometrics, which, like fingerprints, are unique to each of us. Think heart rate, perspiration, oxygen and sleep levels. All of these vary throughout the day depending on the situation (hey, big meeting) and all can impact our mental health. It’s a source of vital info that experts are now homing in on.

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