Why Telemedicine and Mental Health Work
As more of the world moves online, mental health care has plunged into telemedicine. Yes, that means that patients can now receive the mental health care they need from the comfort of their own homes. The best part about all of this is that research has suggested telemedicine and mental health seem to be working together just great!
What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a form of healthcare that takes place online. Telemedicine allows healthcare professionals to assess, diagnose, and develop a treatment plan for their patients without the need for in-person appointments. Telemedicine has been around for many years, with research on telepsychology beginning as early as the 1960s. However, with the rise of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, this form of healthcare has recently begun to boom in popularity.
The Effectiveness of Telehealth Mental Health
Research suggests that telepsychology services can be highly effective and increase the world’s accessibility to mental health care. For example, in cases of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans, studies have found that telehealth treatment was as effective as in-person treatment. Other mental health disorders telepsychology has been shown to be effective in treating include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Adjustment disorder
- Eating disorders
- Substance use
As research proves the effectiveness of telehealth mental health care, psychologists are finding the modality for treatment has even more benefits to offer. Telepsychology has shown to have higher retention rates than in-person treatment, meaning more clients are receiving all of the care they need.
Who Can Benefit from Telehealth Mental Health Care?
Telehealth mental health care can benefit a large number of people from all different walks of life. Having the convenience of mental health care from your computer screen allows a person to get the mental health help they need without having to leave their home.
There are many reasons a person may struggle to make it to in-person appointments, like:
- Being unable to find transportation
- Struggling to find childcare
- Feeling unable to find the time to attend an appointment in person
- Feeling anxious
- Being bedridden
- And so much more
With telehealth mental health care, accessibility to mental health care is greatly improved. It allows those who may not have made it to an in-person appointment to still receive the healthcare they need.
According to an article in Yale Medicine, one piece of the population greatly benefiting from telehealth mental health care is the younger generation. Considering such a large part of children’s and adolescents’ lives are online, moving their mental health care online has proven to provide them with more convenience than ever before!
If You Would Like to Give Remote Counseling a Try
Receiving mental health care when you need it is critical to living your happiest, healthiest life. However, in-person appointments can be time-consuming, inconvenient, and, for some, nerve-racking. That is precisely why telehealth mental health care just may be right for you. If you are ready to give remote counseling a try, we are here for you. Contact us today, and we will help you schedule your first telehealth appointment with a caring, compassionate counselor.
References
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/telehealth-for-mental-health
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/07/cover-telepsychology
Keywords: telemedicine, mental health, remote counseling, telehealth