Study: Smartphones can provide depression gauge

Smartphones could provide a handy way of telling when people are depressed, according to researchers.

Tracking the number of minutes a phone is used, and its location, can provide clues about the user’s state of mind, a study suggests.

The more time someone spends on his or her phone, the greater the chance they are depressed, say the scientists. The average daily usage for depressed individuals was found to be around 68 minutes, compared with 17 minutes for happier souls.