The Benefits of Telemental Health
In recent years, telemental health has revolutionized health care, making it more accessible and flexible for individuals seeking support. With the rise of digital communication, these services can effectively be brought into the homes of those who may have troubles getting to a physical office visit or for those with busy schedules. Here are some key benefits that we can offer that help make telehealth therapy an excellent option:
Increased Accessibility Having greater accessibility to mental health care is one of the greatest benefits of telemental health. For example, those who live in rural areas as well as those with mobility issues will now be able to seek the care that they need without the hinderance of travel. Average wait times to see a therapist decrease with the ability to seek therapists in different cities within your state and furthermore, clients can still meet with their therapists when traveling, during inclimate weather or when an emergency arises.
Greater Convenience and Flexibility With telemental health, travel will no longer be necessary which helps with demanding work schedules, transportation issues and childcare issues. Because of the ease of having therapy in the comfort of their own homes, clients will feel more confident and comfortable attending sessions on a regular basis.
Comfort and Privacy For those who may hesitate scheduling mental health therapy for fear of going into an office or running into people they may know, telemental health would be beneficial in making them more comfortable and willing to schedule sessions. Having a session in the comfort of their own will help to ease the client as well as enhance openness. Privacy becomes less of an issue since the client is at home and not in a public space.
Reduced Stigma Stigmas represent the largest barrier when seeking help for mental illness especially for those with concerns about meeting their therapists in public or those that suffer from social anxieties can benefit from telemental health which, is known to help ease those anxieties while promoting better acceptance of seeking help.
Comparable Effectiveness Research continues to show that telemental health is just as effective as in-person sessions and because telemental health allows for clients to seek therapists outside of their geographical area, clients can have more opportunities for quicker treatments, better schedules and a wider variety of services.
As the world continues to change and technologies become a larger part of our daily lives, telemental health is not only growing rapidly but, it is also transforming the mental health landscape. With telemental health, mental health care becomes more convenient, accessible and effective than it has ever been. No matter how busy life may be, with telemental health, sessions can become a more flexible and reliable opportunity to get the help that you need.
Sources:
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). What is telemental health? https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/what-is-telemental-health
Walden University. (n.d.). Five benefits of telemental health. https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/psychology/resource/five-benefits-of-telemental-health