How Telehealth Can Help Solve the Mental Health Crisis
It’s not an overstatement to say that right now in the U.S., we’re facing a mental health crisis. The statistics are stark: one in five adults experience mental illness each year, and one in 20 are diagnosed with a serious mental illness. Meanwhile, suicide is the second leading cause of death of young people ages 10 to 34. Older adults are not immune, either: one in five people over age 55 also experience mental health problems, with depression the most prevalent issue.
COVID-19 has taken its toll, too. Our collective mental health has taken a nosedive during a two-plus-year global pandemic that has brought not only deadly disease, but also stress, fear, grief, and physical isolation.
Unfortunately, mental healthcare is elusive for many Americans. There is a severe shortage of behavioral health providers across the country: in 2021, 37% of Americans were living in an area with a mental health professional shortage. In addition, over half of U.S. counties have no practicing psychiatrists, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness. Mental healthcare providers are often stretched thin as they try to keep up with the staggering demand.
While we need a range of strategies to improve mental healthcare in the U.S., telehealth is one of the most important — and readily available — tools we have to address the crisis right now. This treatment modality allows patients to connect with healthcare providers via video conference, telephone, and even text messaging. It’s a cost-effective way to provide more people with the mental healthcare they need. Here’s a closer look at just a few of the benefits of telehealth for mental healthcare.
Improves Access to Care
The central benefit of telehealth is that it improves access to mental healthcare by meeting patients where they are. Patients who live far from a mental healthcare provider — including those millions of Americans who live in a county without a psychiatrist — can access care without having to arrange travel. Others who are homebound or who have mobility problems, including older adults and disabled persons, can similarly connect with a mental healthcare provider without leaving home. Even people without mobility issues or transportation challenges may prefer a telehealth session to reduce their COVID-19 risk.
A variety of types of mental healthcare are available via telehealth. Patients can meet one-on-one with a physician, counselor, or therapist, participate in group therapy, and receive addiction and substance abuse counseling. Therapy via text messaging can also be an option. Importantly, physicians can prescribe medication during a telehealth appointment as well.
Reduces Wait Times to See a Provider
With the shortage of mental care health professionals and high demand for their services, wait times to see a provider in person can be extremely long. A 2018 study by the National Council for Behavioral Health and Cohen Veterans Network revealed that 94 million Americans had to wait more than a week for mental health services. It’s not uncommon to have to wait even longer — weeks or months — to see a psychiatrist or similar medical specialist, as opposed to a therapist or counselor. These long wait times aren’t just inconvenient; they can be deadly if the patient is in crisis. (The California state legislature seemingly recognized this fact last year when it passed a bill to limit wait times for mental healthcare to no more than 10 days.)
Telehealth can help reduce such long wait times by removing geographic constraints and giving patients access to a wider pool of mental health professionals. On the provider end, telehealth enables providers to see more patients per day by streamlining the flow of appointments and reducing the scheduling burden of no-shows and cancellations.
Offers Privacy and Reduces Stigma
Unfortunately, the stigma around mental health can prevent many people from seeking the care they need. Negative attitudes about psychology and psychiatry, the idea that seeking care is a sign of “weakness,” and a fear of discrimination can all cause people to suffer in silence. Telehealth is a lifeline for these patients, as it provides a way to receive mental healthcare without having to appear in person anywhere. Privacy is priority for telehealth providers as well — they provide secure portals where patients can safely video conference, message, and chat with their provider. Video appointments are not recorded, either.
Provides Flexibility and Options
It’s important to note that telehealth is not always appropriate for every mental health complaint or every patient. Some people need intensive outpatient or inpatient care, and telehealth is not intended to replace this kind of treatment. However, telehealth increases the number of options for care and provides flexibility, even for people undergoing intensive treatment. It’s a much-needed complement to in-person care.
It’s Effective, and People Like It
Telehealth is a proven way to deliver quality mental healthcare. A 2017 systematic review of research on telehealth for mental healthcare described it as an “effective alternative to conventional medical care,” with studies showing that it can provide rapid diagnoses, reduce medical expenses, improve the quality of ADHD therapy, enhance clinical care and services, provide for continuous medication monitoring, and reliably assess dementia in older adults, among a variety of other findings. A separate study from 2013 showed that video conferencing was just as effective as face-to-face treatment for mental health conditions like depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse. Moreover, telehealth can improve patient satisfaction, as a 2021 Cleveland Clinic study demonstrated — the researchers found that patients were just as satisfied with virtual visits as they were with in-person care visits. Patients appreciate the convenience and ease of meeting with their healthcare providers online.
A Powerful Tool
We face an uphill battle when it comes to our mental health crisis. The demand for mental healthcare is great, but providers are struggling to keep up. Conventional treatment modalities are no longer sufficient on their own. In this environment, telehealth is a key strategy to provide quality mental healthcare to more people, more effectively.
