Argument for Continued Use of Telehealth for Mental Health Counseling Services

 The integration of information technology into the healthcare system remains one of the most revolutionary advancements in the sector. This technology allows healthcare practitioners to interact with their patients remotely without physical contact, thus enhancing the convenience of some services. Mental health therapists have adopted telehealth to reach a huge population whose movements have been restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas the setbacks presented by the application of telehealth in mental health can be debated, the benefits of this approach are unquestionable. This is because they promote access, reduce healthcare costs, and, most importantly, increase the availability of mental health services to a vast population that would otherwise be neglected. The gradual adoption of telehealth will help reduce the gap in the availability of services resulting from the shortage of mental health practitioners. Besides, the stigma associated with these conditions will be significantly reduced when individuals can access services from their residences. Therefore, telehealth is a revolutionary development that is likely to eliminate the barriers that have historically reduced the availability, accessibility, and affordability of mental health services leading to the deterioration of mental health in society.

           One of the most important benefits of employing telehealth in mental health is enhancing patients’ accessibility. Whereas the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act enhanced accessibility of mental health services, patients still face systemic barriers to these services. According to Lister et al. (2020), most mental health facilities are located in urban regions. This means that the rural populations have minimal access to the services due to distance and other geographical barriers. This translates to over 112 million Americans who lack convenient access to mental health services. Therefore, a huge section of society remains unserved with these services, a potential indicator of the increasing prevalence of the diseases. The application of telehealth in mental health will help to promote equality in access to these services since services are delivered remotely regardless of the geographical location.

           Telehealth will play a vital role in reducing the cost of mental health services. According to Langarizadeh et al. (2017), mental health illnesses are the fifth costliest group of diseases globally. This indicates that the cost of healthcare is a critical barrier to access by a huge population of the underprivileged. With telehealth, patients reduce the time spent on the hospital alongside other logistical costs that they must incur before seeing a therapist in an office setting. More individuals will be encouraged to seek healthcare when they realize that the costs are significantly lower. According to Ritchie et al. (2020), nearly one out five Americans suffers from some mental health condition. Besides the costs of seeking healthcare, loss in the workforce due to these conditions is usually overlooked. These costs can be significantly reduced and thus reduce both burden of disease on society and their financial effects on patients.

           Institutional barriers are an important determinant of accessibility, but personal factors and social norms are equally important contributors to inaccessibility. According to Arnaez et al. (2020), two-thirds of mental health patients fail to seek help due to stigma associated with the conditions such as substance abuse and addiction. This stigma can be addressed by using telehealth that alleviates the need for individuals to visit a mental health practitioner. Healthcare providers are faced with the ethical dilemma of maintaining the confidentiality of patients and providing care effectively, but physical interactions with patients reduce their options. Therefore, the adoption of telehealth in mental health is set to increase the rate at which individuals seek help when they are assured that their health conditions are confidential. The outcome is reduced prevalence of the conditions in the country.

           With the continued advancement of information technology in the health sector, telehealth in mental health will become more popular, and the gap in availability and accessibility to these services will be significantly reduced. According to Zhou et al. (2020), information technology in healthcare enhances the versatility of the system and the primary beneficiaries are the patients and also the healthcare providers. However, like any other form of change, telehealth presents the dilemma of rejection by patients accustomed to in-person interaction with the physicians. Patient satisfaction is the main element that is brought to question as far as telehealth is concerned. Also, the healthcare providers may have to change their approach to therapy, seeing that it will mainly depend on their communication skills while interacting with patients remotely. Technical problems also present another view of the challenges that this development will introduce.

           Telehealth in mental health will revolutionize many aspects of the field, including accessibility, availability, and affordability of services. This technology will help reduce the gap between the number of providers and the large population of mental health patients. Enhanced convenience in service accessibility will make it easier for the providers and promote the health-seeking behaviors of patients. With mental health being a growing problem in society, new approaches must be explored to eradicate any barriers. Moreover, technology will inevitably infiltrate every aspect of healthcare, including how patients and providers interact. As far as this development is concerned, the most important challenge is patient satisfaction and the potential resistance by patients accustomed to the traditional in-person interaction with their providers.

Argument for Continued Use of Telehealth for Mental Health Counseling Services

            Telehealth in mental health is a revolutionary development that is likely to eliminate the barriers that have historically reduced the availability, accessibility, and affordability of mental health services leading to the deterioration of mental health in society.

Accessibility to services

• Most of the mental health facilities are located in urban regions and this means that the rural populations have minimal access to the services due to the distance and other geographical barriers.
• The application of telehealth in mental health would serve to promote equality in access to these services since services are delivered remotely regardless of the geographical location.

Reducing the cost of health services

• The cost of healthcare is an important barrier to access by a huge population of the underprivileged.
• With telehealth, patients reduce the time spent on the hospital alongside other logistical costs that they must incur before seeing a therapist in an office setting.
• Besides the costs of seeking healthcare, loss in the workforce as a result of these conditions is usually overlooked

Stigma

• Two-thirds of mental health patients fail to seek help due to stigma associated with the conditions such as substance abuse and addiction.
• This stigma can be addressed by using telehealth that alleviates the need for individuals to visit a mental health practitioner.

Telehealth in future

• Telehealth in mental health will inevitably become more popular and the gap in availability and accessibility to these services will be significantly reduced.
• Telehealth presents the dilemma of rejection by the patients who are accustomed to in-person interaction with the physicians.
• Patient satisfaction is the main element that is brought to question as far as telehealth is concerned.

            Telehealth in mental health will revolutionize many aspects of the field for the better including accessibility, availability, and affordability of services. Enhanced convenience in service accessibility will not only make it easier for the providers but also promote the health-seeking behaviors of patients.