Telepsych
How telepsychiatry and telepsychology improve access to mental health care.
More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime.
Telepsych is a branch of telehealth that involves receiving mental health services and prescription management in a digital form. That includes email, live video conferencing and smartphone apps. While live video conferencing is similar to an in-person appointment, smartphone apps might function as more of a mental health support as opposed to treatment.
Telepsychiatry and telepsychology can be just as effective as in-person treatment and might even be preferable to some. It can be especially beneficial to those suffering from eating disorders, substance abuse, schizophrenia and anxiety, as well as others who might have a hard time leaving the house and would prefer to be treated in the comfort of their own home.
Services patients can receive include (but aren’t limited to):
- Psychological services and evaluations
- Individual, group and family therapy
- Patient education
- Medical management
- Create and implement treatment plans
- Refer client to other services
One in five Americans will experience mental illness in a given year.
Six in ten Americans said that they would use telehealth services for mental health care, according to a survey by the American Psychiatric Association.
Why increasing access to mental health services is Important
Positive mental health is the feeling of emotional, psychological and social well-being and it affects how we think, feel and act. It determines how we handle stress, relate to others and our ability to make healthy choices. It also has a profound effect on our performance at work. Poor mental health leads to:
- Absenteeism
- Burn-out
- Higher employee compensation claims
- Work-family conflict
- Low productivity
- Less innovative behaviors
- Lower engagement in work
More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with mental illness in their lifetime, and 1 in 5 experience mental illness in a given year. The causes range from adverse life experiences to chemical imbalances and can affect anyone. So an improvement in access to and coverage of mental health services is vital, not just for employee happiness, but for company growth as well.
Benefits of telepsych
- Lowers the barriers to receiving mental health services to people with mobility issues and who live in rural settings.
- Increases the pool of possible therapists for patients and increases the likelihood of a therapist/patient match, which can improve therapy outcomes and increase the likelihood that therapy will be successful.
- Enables mental health providers to support primary care providers with mental health consultations and expertise.
- Facilitates medication management (especially important for mood disorders).
- Can help facilitate group, couples, and family therapy for people with busy lives.