computer science

How does computer science/technology help people with mental health problems learn?

Introduction

Disability is part and parcel of the population in the contemporary world. It is important to ensure that the people living with disabilities have equal rights as the rest of the populations. The United Nations recognizes the people living with disabilities and is dedicated to ensure that they have the best life. United Nations Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) [1] states that disability is a developing concept. Computer science and technology has played an important role in promoting education for people with mental health diseases. Interactive technology has been useful in helping people living with autism to recognize faces. Computer science is used in the creation of games that will be used by people with autism in facial recognition [2]. Computer games are also being used to teach children with autism in emotional recognition because such people have a challenge in the identification of emotions [2]. This paper looks at the contribution of computer science and technology in helping people with mental health conditions.

Cases of mental health in society

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, mental health conditions include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, autism, depression, dissociative disorders, early psychosis and psychosis, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia [3]. It is important to get information on the mental health conditions that are affecting the people in society to be able to understand how to deal with them.

How computer science and technology can be used in helping people with mental conditions

Mental health matter in global health. Global health refers to the area of research that is aimed at ensuring equality in healthcare and making sure that all the people in the society have access to the best healthcare possible [3]. The literature mostly talks about autism as the mental health issue that is treated using computer technology. Computer technologies that include robotics and multi-touch interfaces, virtual reality and affective computing have been used in supporting the people living with autism [4]. Smartphones and computer programs have been used to monitor the behaviour of people and mental health. Optimal mental care will come up if the earlier diagnosis is made. Earlier detection of the mental health conditions is important because it helps in finding out ways in which the people with such conditions can be treated and the measures that can be put in place to enhance their learning processes in their learning conditions. The smartphone technology is part of computer science and technology and may be used in finding solutions to the learning problems that the people are facing in society [5]. Various smartphone apps have been developed to help the people living with disabilities to access their learning materials at the comfort of their homes.

Video games have been used in e-learning which has helped the people living with ADHD in their learning process. Video learning has made it possible for people with ADHD to learn better as they go on with their schooling system or their learning process [6]. The visually impaired people face particular challenges in their learning process compared to the other people in the society who can see. The design of a braille application has been used to help the visually impaired persons in their education process. The inability of the visually impaired persons to get visual information makes the have many challenges in the learning process. The development of the braille application has helped the visually impaired persons to get visual information, which makes their learning process to be much easier. The development of algorithm tools has also provided a solution that helps in the education of visually impaired persons [7].  The most important contribution that information communication technology is because it has made the process of information access for people living with disabilities to be much easier.  The fact that the information communication technology has made it easier for the people with disabilities to access information conveniently has made the learning process to be much easier in such a way that it has improved the education standards and processes.

Conclusion

Computer science and technology has played an important role in promoting education for people with mental health diseases. Video games have been used in e-learning which has helped the people living with ADHD in their learning process. Computer technologies that include robotics and multi-touch interfaces, virtual reality and affective computing have been used in supporting the people living with autism.