According to the WHO, mental health disorders affect one in four people. It’s not surprising that the resounding crisis in mental health has also seen an emergence of mental health apps.

There are over 315,000 mental health (or mHealth) apps currently available.

What are mHealth Apps?

Apps are small programs that can be accessed and used on smart media such as phones, tablets and computers. The mHealth apps may allow people who may not be able to afford treatment, or choose not to seek it, to self-manage their conditions.

Some of these mental health apps range from treating people recovering from serious mental illnesses. There are apps for cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other conditions. A plethora of mHealth apps focus on mood improvement and reinforcing beneficial mental habits, like mindfulness and relaxation. …

Around the world, patient demand is pushing doctors into the digital revolution. But not without some complications.

Differences in consumer and practitioner perceptions

A comparative survey of how consumers and physicians viewed new technology, including smartphones, genetic testing, privacy, and patient-accessible electronic health records, found that consumers and health professionals differed significantly in their views of emerging medical technology. More enthusiasm and support was expressed by consumers.

The study included almost 22,000 healthcare providers and almost half a million consumers. Amongst the findings, consumers “were more likely to prefer new technologies for a medical diagnosis compared with providers.”

The omnibus study was published in 2015. Since then, globally, demand from patients has risen significantly. In the United Kingdom, pressure on the NHS has…

Social media echo chambers have put the US in a dense fog. Now the 2020 election puts it on the brink of civil war. How do we unravel the mess?

The closeness of the 2020 US election, and the level of vitriol, is unsurprising.

Think about why.

Never in history has a private company had so much power over so many people.

The term echo chamber is heavily used to describe social media, where “people are able to seek out information that reinforces their existing views, potentially as an unconscious exercise of confirmation bias .” (Wikipedia)

Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist and futurist, describes social media as “behaviour manipulation empires” to John Thornhill of the Financial Times. …

Life is confusing, heartbreaking, and beautiful.

My job as your parent is to give you unconditional love. And boundaries.

You will make your own choices, but these are breadcrumbs to help guide your way. For what it’s worth, this is what I think is important.

Always be honest with yourself

It’s going to happen that you won’t always tell the truth. Sometimes it is to be kind or protect someone. Use your good judgment about whether it is okay or not.

But always be honest with yourself.

Reading is your portal through time

Always keep learning. Everything is interesting when you try to understand it. How planes fly; how organs in your body work; the literary masterpieces that have been made for you to…

During the coronavirus lockdown, I sat alone in my book-filled studio. I was surrounded by great literature, beautiful music. A glorious garden streamed through the windows.

And I chose to do something absolutely mind numbing.

I chose to create a Strategy Manual.

Why would I do that?

The reason was this.

It has always perturbed me that so many businesses fail on strategic planning.

By that I mean we don’t see the big picture. Making a business strategy requires big picture thinking.

So often we can’t see the wood for the trees.

Strategic Planning Failures — the Reasons Why

The truth is, few businesses with which I have ever worked, have had a clear and effective company strategy. …

I once heard some advice from a Lieutenant colonel: Think two rungs above.

This is what that means.

What are the people thinking about two management levels higher up?

If you’re a young Lieutenant, you take orders from a Captain. They take orders from a Major.

So, if you are a Lieutenant, what is your Major worried about?

If you can make that your jump in your thinking, you understand how to do your own job better. You can also work in closer partnership with your Captain (so to speak) and help the two of you.

I guess it’s a form of constructive empathy. …

Don’t get me wrong. I loved doing my master’s degree in marketing.

Marketing has a great blend of psychology, strategy, and creativity. All things I love. You probably do as well.

But these standout books are practically worth as much as that $32,000 Master’s degree. These books, not textbooks, have helped me with tons of clients, from startup entrepreneurs to large international operators.

So here is my selection of must-read marketing books (with my personal affiliate links).

My criteria for recommending these books to you is:

• insightful and actionable
• easy to understand (plain English)
• fun to read
• easy to get

Confessions of an Advertising Man

by David Ogilvy…

There are many good reasons why blogging is good for doctors and medical centres. Here are seven.

1. Health promotion is a requirement of the RACGP accreditation.

Doctors are well placed to provide health information. They are often the primary entry point for people seeking assistance. The Royal Australian College of General Practice standards state:

By providing information in documents such as brochures and fact sheets and on reputable websites, including your own, you will be encouraging patients to select information on health issues that may affect or interest them.

RACGP Standards for General Practice 5th edition

Mythbusting
Blogging, or article writing, is a way to teach people about basic facts and dispel any rumours or falsehoods. …