How effective is Tele-mental health: A new frontier in mental health care
Introduction
What is “Tele-mental Health” and how effective is Tele-mental health? How does it differ from traditional Mental Health? This question usually comes into the mind, when we think about this word.
Mental health is a critical issue that affects people of all age groups and background.
While there are many different ways to treat mental health issues, tele-mental health is a new and growing field that offers many benefits.
Most of us tend to think of mental health and mental illness as the same thing; however, the two terms are actually very different from one another in several important ways.
The term mental health refers to person’s overall well-being, whereas the term mental illness refers to an unhealthy or abnormal state of mind that can impact person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and even perception of reality.
While both are legitimate areas of concern, only those conditions that disrupt or impair someone’s daily functioning or ability to enjoy life would be classified as actual mental illnesses.
Why the need of Tele-mental health services ?
Tele-mental health is a new frontier in mental health care that allows patient to receive treatment and support from doctors, therapists, and other mental health professional through the use of technology.
Patients can access mental health services through online chat, video conferencing, or text messaging.
Tele- mental health services are available in a variety of languages and can be accessed from anywhere in the World.
Patients can access mental health care from any location, at any point, at any time, and without having to leave their homes.
Mental health providers can easily and cheaply connect with patients online, providing them with same level of cares as if they were in person.
In today’s world, individuals need help with mental health issues on a daily basis. Because of stigma, many people are afraid to seek professional help or therapy.
There is even a joke that, if you need therapy, go see your barber instead.
Many times, individuals choose not to talk about their mental health problems or what they are going through in fear of being judged.
But how are we supposed to address mental health issues if we don’t open up about them?
It might be hard at first, but once you realize how comforting and relaxing talking to someone can actually be, you will feel so much better afterward.
You should not have to suffer in silence, when it comes to your emotional health just because other people don’t believe that therapy is necessary for everyone.
Benefits of tele-mental health
The main reason for increased demand for tele-mental health services are various mental disorders.
Major depression disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders (social phobia and panic attacks), eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa which require specialized treatment have been major reasons for increased interest in tele-mental health.
Moreover, many patients who are recovering from a stroke can benefit greatly by receiving treatment via tele-health.
A large percentage of patients after undergoing heart surgeries at tertiary care hospitals or those with chronic pain can also benefit by accessing specialist mental health care services via tele-health programs.
Tele-mental health also allows providers to better monitor and track patients progress, which can help them identify problems early and provide the best possible care.
Who can benefitted from tele-mental health?
A lot of times, people suffering from mental illness don’t have access to proper care. Even in urban areas, long wait lists for appointments can delay treatment for months or even years.
Tele-mental health, a relatively new service offered by some psychologists and psychiatrists, offers at-home treatment to patients via technology such as Skype, FaceTime, Health Plix, Zoom etc. with a licensed therapist trained in online interventions.
How can tele-mental health help?
Traditional mental health services typically rely on in-person sessions at a clinician’s office. With tele-mental health, clinicians monitor patients remotely, providing guidance when needed via video or audio call.
This can be helpful for people who don’t have access to in-person therapy. But traditional in-person therapy is not always feasible for everyone, especially those with mobility issues, long work commutes or strict child care schedules.
Telemedicine solves that problem by bringing mental health services to people where they are instead of forcing them to come to a clinic or office without sacrificing quality of care.
It also enables providers to help more people who might not otherwise have access to professional mental health services.
How to get started with tele-mental health
If you are looking for a way to improve your mental health, tele-mental health may be a good option for you.
There are a few thing you need to consider if you want to get started with tele-mental health. First you will need to find a tele-mental health provider. These providers, may be neuro- psychiatrist, psychologist, psychosocial workers or any person expertise in mental health.
These providers can be found online or through your local community. Most important, you will need find a way to connect with your provider. This could be through video chat, email or another type of online connection.
Conclusion
Tele-mental health is a new and growing field that has many benefits. It can be helpful for people of all ages and backgrounds.
If you are interested in knowing more about how effective is Tele-mental health, consult with mental health professional to get started.
Although its effectiveness remains in question, tele-mental health may be an inexpensive option that can improve access to mental healthcare without compromising quality.