Managing Traumatic Stress Using a Mental Health Care Mobile App: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study aims to contribute to improving mental health services and establishing a direction for disaster survivors by verifying the effectiveness of the TLS (Training for Life Skills) app, a mental health management mobile application. Altogether, 22 disaster survivors received access to the app (with guidance) for eight weeks; we analyzed its effectiveness by examining each participant's electroencephalography data, which were collected while they were utilizing the app. The results of this study show that the use of the TLS app had a significant positive effect on emotional quotient, basic rhythm quotient (left brain, right brain), alpha blocking rate (left brain, right brain), and brain quotient of disaster survivors. The TLS mobile app is expected to not only provide psychological first aid to disaster survivors but also to improve their life skills, which may allow them to gain information about their emotions; hence, it may provide the appropriate conditions needed to enable effective self-control and health management for disaster survivors.