Promoting Tech Transfer Between Space and Global Mental Health.

Area of Science:

• Space Medicine and Mental Health Technology
• Technological Innovation in Healthcare

Background:

• Long-duration spaceflight presents unique mental health challenges (confinement, microgravity, altered light exposure).
• Earth faces global mental health issues including disease burden, diagnostic limitations, and access barriers.
• Emerging technologies like sensors, omics, and big data offer potential solutions for both domains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the bidirectional value of mental health technology transfer between Earth and space applications.
• To identify technologies applicable to both space missions and terrestrial mental health challenges.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies focusing on mental health technological innovation and space medicine.

Main Results:

• Earth-based technologies for space include device-based therapy, social support, chatbots, and nutrition/activity interventions.
• Space-based technologies for Earth include remote sensing, satellite navigation and communication, chronotherapies, and nutritional advances.

Conclusions:

• Space technology has historically informed Earth healthcare, and vice versa.
• Proactive dialogue and training are crucial to enhance innovation and optimize outcomes for mental health technology transfer.
• Avoiding a haphazard approach will reduce delays, costs, and missed opportunities in leveraging these technologies.