WEBVTT

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- The National Institute for
Mental Health found in 2020

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that one in five adults in the
United States were struggling

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with mental health.

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The Mental Health Association
found a similar number,

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and further found

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that 27 million U.S. adults
would not receive treatment

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for their mental health issues.

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People may not be seeking
mental health services

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for a whole variety of reasons.

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There could be high
cost associated with it,

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stigma from themselves or
from their communities,

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or it's just too far to get to.

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Mental health apps could
help bridge this gap.

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The Privacy Not Included buyer's guide

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surveyed 32 mental health apps

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and found that 28 did not meet
their standard for security.

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Which includes what the
company does with user data,

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how a user can control their own data,

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the company's previous track record

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with user data protection,

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and how the company meets Mozilla's

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own minimum security standards.

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For example, an app like Calm

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which is a self-guided meditation app,

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could be tracking your data and selling it

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to advertisers for advertisements
on other platforms.

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Mental health apps don't
have to be as regulated

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or as confidential

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as traditional therapy
services have to be.

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So it's pretty much the
wild, wild west out there.

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And your data could be up
for grabs from advertisers.

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An app developed by RAINN,

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which is the Rape Abuse and
Incest National Network,

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with the aim of providing
talk therapy to survivors

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of sexual assault and their loved ones,

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allegedly is not protecting the identities

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of these survivors.

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The mental health crisis is
getting worse in America.

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And apps like these could be a way

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to get people the mental
health care they need.

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But until they're regulated,

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it might not be the smartest
decision to use them.

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To read more about this story,

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check out gizmodo.com.