Can technology transform mental healthcare?

Any conversation focused on what's great about America usually includes a mention of optimism, hopefulness or some variation on the theme. Americans generally still believe in a brighter future, and especially the ways in which technology can enable that future. But that sense of optimism contains a kernel of potential disappointment when we ask technology to do too much. Consider the case of mental health care, a profession that faces massive budget shortfalls. According to Robert Glover, executive director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program, from 2009 to 2012 states cut roughly $5 billion in mental health services and eliminated about 4,500 public psychiatric beds.