Digital cure or digital cage?: reassessing wellness in the age of algorithmic mental health

Bhaktharam, Unnathi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4661-0636 and Tyagi, Kirti ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8454-335X (2026) Digital cure or digital cage?: reassessing wellness in the age of algorithmic mental health. In: Reshaping health promotion and disease prevention through digital innovation. IGI Global Scientific Publishing, New York, pp. 193-216. ISBN 9798337335339

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Abstract

This chapter examines the dual effects of digital technology on mental health, looking at how AI-powered tools, telepsychiatry, and mobile applications influence modern experiences of psychological identity, emotional regulation, and self-care. With the utility of tools like natural language processing (NLP), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) feedback, and predictive risk assessment algorithms, these digital platforms provide scalable and practical interventions. However, they also carry risks, such as over-reliance, a loss of intrinsic motivation, and an inability to recognize deep human nuances. An elaborate discussion of ‘surveillance' in the place of ‘support' is portrayed in detail through an analysis of the most common underlying technological mechanisms of different digital intervention tools. The chapter ends with an advocation of optimizing digital care by careful planning, moral supervision, and integration with human-centered assistance to guarantee that technology enhances, rather than harms, mental health outcomes.

Item Type: Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords: Algorithmics | Digital technologies | Dual effect | Language processing | Mental health | Mobile applications | Natural languages | Self-care | Telepsychiatry | Tool applications
Subjects: Social Sciences and humanities > Psychology > Clinical Psychology
Depositing User: Mr. Syed Anas
Date Deposited: 16 Apr 2026 11:03
Last Modified: 16 Apr 2026 11:03
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-3531-5.ch007
URI: https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/11211

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