Integrating Pervasive Technologies Into Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Study in Mexico

Around 500 million people suffer from mental disorders, from which depression, schizophrenia, and dementia are the most prevalent. In Mexico, roughly 17% of people have at least one mental disorder and one in four will be affected at least once in their lifetime. Pervasive technologies are making it possible to support health professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from mental and behavioral disorders in developed economies. In this article, we present the results of a qualitative study with mental health professionals. Our study shows that although the use of pervasive technology can provide benefits to health professionals in the mental health domain, there are still significant challenges, opportunities, and concerns that need to be addressed by the scientific community. This article aims at opening the conversation for research in this emerging area by outlining some challenges and opportunities in developing countries.