"Australian researchers plan to launch a wireless service aimed at monitoring adolescent depression and pick up warning signs of potentially suicidal behavior. Under the program, teens download specially-designed software on their wireless phones, which asks a series of questions twice a day to gauge youths' moods and susceptibility to depression. In the trial, the software will be installed on the wireless phones of 400 teenagers for 1 year. (Source: AFP) "
Hmm... ok, there are so many questions about this... I wonder whether they will find this program to be successful, or if answering questions about how they feel twice a day would drive these kids into even more depression? On the other hand, this is a way to harness the power of fidgeting - the free-in-between-time spaces, waiting for the bus, on a bus, walking, bored in class, etc... those times when anything is more interesting than the task at hand, maybe this particular task can fit into this kind of framework? I wonder though, about the veracity of responses. If someone is feeling suicidal, I doubt they would be willing to answer questions or answer them truthfully. Kids are not stupid and, after a while of answering same questions over and over, they may get good at making it seem they are better... it only takes a few answers that are slightly towards the "good" on the scale and those probably wouldn't be difficult to figure out. Of course, it is hard to say without knowing more details and AFP is not exactly forthcoming with them. Hopefully there will be an academic piece on this sometime soon.
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