Why Telehealth?

Telehealth is a helpful and increasingly common technique for mental health care. It offers many people a secure, practical, and accessible option to get the assistance they require, independent of their physical location or mobility. Here are some studies that demonstrate the potential advantages of telehealth in therapy, with an emphasis on how it can enhance people's emotional well-being.

• Improved access to care: Research has consistently shown that telehealth can help people who live in rural or remote locations have easier access to mental health services. For instance, a research by Luxton et al. (2016) demonstrated that veterans residing in rural places could effectively access mental health care thanks to telehealth services. This is crucial because it's possible that many residents of rural or isolated locations don't have easy access to mental health treatments, which can result in feelings of loneliness and isolation.

• Greater flexibility and convenience: Telehealth allows patients to attend therapy sessions from the comfort of their own homes. This is crucial for people who struggle to get to in-person appointments due to mobility challenges, chronic pain, or other medical concerns. According to Chakrabarti et al. (2015), found that telepsychiatry for people with depression and anxiety was just as successful as in-person therapy while also being more practical and affordable.

• Improved care continuity: Telehealth can support the continuity of care, especially in times of emergency or when patients are unable to attend in-person appointments because of illness or other reasons. According to McClellan et al. (2017), people who have been through a natural disaster could receive appropriate mental health therapy thanks to telehealth services. This is crucial since interruptions in mental health treatment can result in anxiety, tension, and even depressive symptoms.

• Greater anonymity: Telehealth can give those who feel more at ease discussing sensitive topics in the quiet of their own homes more anonymity. According to a study by Simpson et al. (2018), telehealth services are successful at treating sexual assault survivors' mental health issues, and they are also perceived as being more private and stigma-free than in-person therapy. This is crucial since many people who have gone through trauma might feel awkward talking about their experiences in public.

• cost-effective: Since telehealth eliminates the need for clients to pay for transportation, childcare, or time off from work, it might be a less expensive alternative to in-person therapy. Malpass et al. (2017) discovered that telehealth services were helpful in treating people with depression and anxiety for a reasonable price. This is crucial because for many people, cost can be a major barrier to receiving mental health care.

Research has shown that different medicines delivered through telehealth are beneficial. Sucala et al. (2012) discovered, for instance, that cognitive-behavioral therapy given via videoconferencing was equally beneficial as therapy conducted in person for treating depression and anxiety. In a similar vein, Varker et al.'s meta-analysis from 2019 indicated that cognitive behavioural therapy provided online was successful in treating post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Mindfulness-based therapies have also been found to be effective when delivered via telehealth. A randomised controlled trial by Cavanagh et al. (2013) found that an internet-delivered mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program was effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Telehealth delivery of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has additionally proven to be successful. According to Lundgren et al.'s (2018) randomised controlled experiment, an internet-delivered ACT intervention proved successful in easing the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Telehealth delivery of interpersonal therapy (IPT) has also been proven to be successful. According to Mohr et al.'s (2015) randomised controlled experiment, an internet-delivered IPT intervention proved successful in easing the symptoms of depression.

Additionally, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) has been modified for telemedicine delivery. An internet-based DBT programme proved helpful in lowering symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, according to a study by Kliem et al. (2016).

We can take away that telehealth is a useful tool for mental health care because it offers improved continuity of care, higher anonymity, increased accessibility to care, and lower costs. These advantages may have a good effect on people's emotional health, especially if they have trouble getting access to mental health care. Mental health practitioners can guarantee that everyone has access to the support they need to live happy and healthy lives by utilising the advantages of telehealth. Telehealth is a feasible and practical option for people seeking mental health care, telehealth is showing signs of being able to deliver many different forms of therapy efficiently.

Choose the appointment that’s right for you. Click Here

References:

Cavanagh, K., Strauss, C., Forder, L., Jones, F., & Sinclair, J. (2013). A randomised controlled trial of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51(9), 573-578. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2013.06.003

Chakrabarti, S., Gill, S., & Copeland, J. (2015). The perceived benefits of telepsychiatry for consumers of mental health services: A systematic review. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 21(7), 394–403. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X15582108

Kliem, S., Kröger, C., Kosfelder, J., & Schmid, M. (2016). Internet-based dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Behavior Research and Therapy, 77, 41-48. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2015.12.012

Lundgren, J., Dahlström, Ö., Andersson, G., Jaarsma, T., Köhler, A. K., Johansson, P., & Kadowaki, Å. (2018). Internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy vs. cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus: A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 108, 43-50. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.06.004

Luxton, D. D., Pruitt, L. D., & Osenbach, J. E. (2014). Best practices for remote psychological assessment via telehealth technologies. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 45(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034547

Malpass, A., Shaw, A., Sharp, D., Walter, F., Feder, G., & Ridd, M. (2017). “Medication career” or “moral career”? The two sides of managing antidepressants: A meta-ethnography of patients’ experience of antidepressants. Social Science & Medicine, 186, 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.05.033

McClellan, M. J., Floersch, J., & Chakkalackal, L. (2017). The impact of natural disasters on mental health care consumers and providers. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 44(6), 797–801. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-017-0784-7

Mohr, D. C., Ho, J., Duffecy, J., Reifler, D., Sokol, L., Burns, M. N., ... & Siddique, J. (2015). Effect of interpersonal psychotherapy compared with cognitive behavioral therapy in depressed adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 72(5), 498-506. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.3153

Simpson, S. G., Suarez, L., & McMahon, J. (2018). Client perspectives on the effectiveness and acceptability of telemental health services for children, adolescents, and parents. Psychiatric Services, 69(2), 184–190. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201700187

Sucala, M., Schnur, J. B., Constantino, M. J., Miller, S. J., Brackman, E. H., & Montgomery, G. H. (2012). The therapeutic relationship in e-therapy for mental health: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14(4), e110. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2084

Varker, T., Brand, R. M., Ward, J., Terhaag, S., & Phelps, A. (2019). Efficacy of synchronous telepsychology interventions for people with anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder: A rapid evidence assessment. Psychology Services, 16(4), 621-635. doi: 10.1037/ser0000308