Optimizing Mental Health: Technology to Improve Well-Being and Combat Depression
Stephen Schueller: "Optimizing Mental Health: Technology to Improve Well-Being and Combat Depression"
Tuesday, October 01, 2013 | 10:00am - 12:00pm
Host/Chair: 
Karthik Dinakar

PART 1: Investigating Well-being and Character in Psychology (10-11am)
PART 2: Designing and Implementing Mobile Phone Interventions to Combat Depression (11am-12pm)

In recent years the field of positive psychology has helped expand the focus in mental health from alleviating negative states (e.g., negative emotions, depression) to promoting optimal functioning and flourishing. This broadening of focus has advanced the science of well-being and helped develop resources and interventions to promote happiness and positive mental health. Dr. Schueller will also discuss another new frontier, the use of mobile phone applications as mental health interventions especially in the service of treating and preventing depression and the implications of designing tools to improve one's mental health.

Biography: 

Dr. Schueller received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where his research focused on well-being, happiness, positive psychology interventions, and individualized intervention sequences. His current research interests include using Internet interventions in behavioral and mental health service delivery. Specifically, he is interested in how technology can aid users in receiving what they most need by providing opportunities to incorporate users’ choices, patterns of behavior, or characteristics to individualize care. He has conducted work on interventions to promote well-being, smoking cessation, and depression prevention with a strong focus on creating interventions that can be widely disseminated and thus provide services worldwide.