[TT 035] passive diagnosis, understanding speed, equitable health, costly trust, youth eco-distress, botanical architecture
Hi again Thrivers,
Time is speeding up as I ride the currents of school, projects, and connecting. Most of my attention this quarter is focused on healthcare, with a particular lens on mental health. Of my 4 project-based courses (2 experiential, 2 lecture), the project topics are:
- Performance in high achievers and mental health
- Digital technologies for post-partum in recent moms in underserved populations
- Using technology to manage eco-distress and climate anxiety
- Asynchronous delivery of mental health to make it more accessible and affordable
I feel grateful that I could prioritize studying the intersection of technology and mental / behavioral health this quarter. Much to learn and I will be much better versed on the overall US healthcare system and specific considerations for mental health in a handful of (intense) weeks.
With a thoughtful reflection, let's noodle on this week's Thriving Thursday
On innovative passive approaches to mental health technology
This past week I met an investor in a company called Mindstrong that has a brilliant tech-forward mental health delivery model.
How we use our mobile phones speaks to our cognitive function. How we type, swipe, and scroll can highlight, or predict the onset of, cognitive decline. Insurances pay Mindstrong to manage serious mental illness populations with a continuum of telehealth care from coaches to therapists to psychiatrists. As an extra twist, they message 24/7 access to a care team (though I have to wonder if after-hours is mostly outsourced overseas chat). Best of all, since insurances pay it’s absolutely free of charge to patients. So cool! They've raised $160M in funding to date and I really hope they succeed in proving out their innovative model.
Not far behind, Apple is exploring passively collected phone data in partnership with an Alzheimer's drug manufacturer and UCLA. Meanwhile, Altoida has a phone app with a 10 min assessment for early-stage Alzheimers that has a 94% prognostic accuracy. Considering traditional tests require an MRI or PET and are 1+ hr, having a 10 min phone-based diagnostic is faster, cheaper, easier, and more accessible.
This falls squarely in the "creepy cool" category but there is no doubt that these tools will create more personalized, more effective care for vulnerable mental health populations. Excited to see how these technologies evolve over time.
On speaking speed to be understood
Have you ever experienced that spoke so quickly they were hard to understand? Or so slowly it was hard to stay engaged?
Conversational speech is ~150 words per minute, though we speak slower in speeches and are wise to adapt our speed to the medium of delivery.
Beyond average speed, the best orators vary speed within a speech or presentation. Slow down when introducing new ideas or to denote importance, then speed up to indicate excitement or urgency.
Outside of pacing, other key tips from my Strategic Communications class are to:
- Know the audience in front of you
- Be aware of who isn't in the room (people that will hear your message second hand)
- Enunciate
- Make eye contact
- Don't leave an audience member behind
Been a while since I formally trained my public speaking skills and it's been fun to work that muscle.
On a data-driven approach to building equitable health outcomes
UniteUs is a platform to connect and share data across social services including, but not limited to, behavioral health.
I really appreciated how their Building Healthier Communities whitepaper combined various social impact frameworks into an aligned model that works for their platform. A telling quote:
> With a measurement framework through which we can hold ourselves accountable for contributing to community outcomes and advancing health equity, Unite Us can work transparently with community stakeholders toward a shared vision of healthier communities, and can be the infrastructure that facilitates cross-sector action.
Their discussion and process are inspirational for any community-oriented work GIFT can accomplish in the future. So inspiring to see their evidence-based framework and example measures. Looking forward to seeing their fully-fledged impact reports to see the incredible work they are doing in so many communities.
On building trust at work (and at home)
Organizational behavior researcher Justin Berg studies, among other things, trust in the workplace.
A recent study published in the Harvard Business Review offers specific insights and techniques for building trust. To gain trust,
- acknowledge people's emotions verbally - this simple act requires effort that is socially rewarded by both the receiver and any observers
- acknowledge negative (as well as positive) emotions - speaking to negative emotions is perceived as "more costly" and therefore engenders greater trust
- focus on emotions over circumstance - validating someone's feelings creates stronger bonds than observing the context of their experience
- mistakes matter, sometimes - speaking a positive emotion when someone feels negative breaks trust, but speaking a negative emotion when someone feels positive has effectively no penalty
- be genuine and appropriate - emotionally validation can backfire if it's at the wrong time, too often, or perceived as being manipulative
This is framed in the lens of the workplace with Costly Signaling Theory. It's possible the "costs" at home are lower so the "rewards" of increased trust are less pronounced, but intuitively each of these points maps directly to personal relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. If I had to bet, I'd say these concepts are more fundamental to the human experience than the artificial divide of work vs. home life.
Especially interesting is that it's better to be wrong than silent. *No comment*
I did not see a distinction in the primary research between genders, and I wonder how the results would vary if it was males observing / interacting with males or with females and vice versa with females observing / interacting with females or with males.
Notice when you acknowledge, or someone acknowledges your, feelings - do you notice a shift in your trust?
On rampant climate anxiety in youth
A recent survey of 10,000 16 to 25-year-olds found that 60% feel very or extremely worried and 45% said their feelings about climate change impacted their daily lives. That number is HUGE and will only accelerate as our ecosystems deteriorate.
Even worse, of the vast majority that has tried to talk to others, nearly half were ignored or dismissed for their climate concerns.
Some organizations doing good work in this domain are the Good Grief Network as well as Climate Cafes. More on this front in the weeks to come.
On a gorgeous botanical architecture
The botanical garden in Tiayuan, China must be one of the most beautiful architectural designs I've ever seen. There are 3 domes, each with its own distinct climate, plus an artificial lake for aquatic life.
This is absolutely on my bucket list - just take a look at this stunning bonsai museum
These photos are simply breathtaking. Wow.
---
That's a wrap!
With passively trustworthy slow-enough understanding,
~Henry