The role of telehealth in reducing the mental health burden from COVID-19

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The role of telehealth in reducing the mental
health burden from COVID-19
Every year World Mental Health Day is celebrated,
with the aim of raising awareness of mental
health issues around the world and mobilizing
efforts in support of mental health. This year,
the aim of World Mental Health Day is to
increase investment in mental health and comes at
a time when our daily lives have changed
considerably as a result of COVID-19.
People with mental health problems may experience
even greater social isolation than before. The
past few months have brought many challenges for
healthcare workers, who have had to provide care
under difficult circumstances and have been
afraid of bringing COVID-19 home for students,
who had to adapt to online learning with almost
no contact with teachers and friends For workers
whose livelihoods are threatened, the economic
consequences of the pandemic are already being
felt, as companies lay off staff and those who
have had to face the pain of losing loved ones.
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Due to these factors, the need for telehealth for
mental health and psychosocial support is
expected to increase substantially in the coming
months and years. Therefore, investing in mental
health programs, which have suffered years of
chronic underfunding, is now more important than
ever. Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health The
mental health of healthcare workers has been
especially affected due to the pandemic. A
cross-sectional study of 1,257 healthcare workers
in 34 hospitals equipped with fever clinics or
wards for COVID-19 patients in China showed that
a "considerable" proportion of healthcare workers
reported symptoms of depression, anxiety,
insomnia and distress. This was especially true
for women, nurses, people in Wuhan, and
frontline healthcare workers directly involved in
diagnosing, treating, or providing nursing care
to patients with suspected or confirmed
COVID-19. . Doctors and nurses recently revealed
to TIME that they had harbored dark feelings due
to fear of spreading the disease to families,
frustration over the lack of adequate protective
equipment, exhaustion, and deep sadness for
dying patients. Frontline healthcare workers are
experiencing considerable stress. Hospitals must
provide their staff with easy and confidential
access to mental health services. For example,
they can create helplines for personalized advice
when necessary. Within the GCC region, Abu Dhabi
Health Services Company (SEHA) created the SEHA
Employee Psychological Support Task Force (SEPST)
in the initial phase of the outbreak in
anticipation of the adverse effects of the
pandemic in front-line staff. SEPST hosts weekly
webinars where experts guide staff on stress
management and mental wellbeing. SEHA has also
launched a telephone helpline that staff can
access in times of distress. Some strategies can
also help managers support their teams by
incorporating new behaviors and offering
reassurance when possible. How Telemedicine Can
Help Unfortunately, people in some communities
may react to those who have had the virus with
fear or distrust. As a society, we must reject
the stigmatization of anyone with COVID-19. This
virus knows no borders. People who survive this
ordeal will likely feel guilty, especially if
their loved ones have passed away. They
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will need social and emotional support for many
years. Furthermore, around the world, it is
clear that many patients who need mental health
care are unable to access it when they need it
or choose not to seek treatment for fear of
social stigma. Enter telemedicine. Several
studies found that online counseling is as
effective, if not more so, than conventional
face-to-face therapy. Telemedicine can offer
better access to more mental health specialists,
especially during these trying times when people
will need them more than ever. Remotely located
patients can now connect with the mental health
specialist of their choice, through their local
hospitals, which they can easily access.
Additionally, for some patients with
anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
post-traumatic stress disorder, entering a
hospital or clinic creates an additional layer of
anxiety and can trigger unwanted feelings and
thoughts. Telemedicine offers more privacy and
provides therapy without causing feelings of
anxiety. Telehealth for Mental Health The
prevalence of mental illness in the US was
growing before COVID. Since the start of the
pandemic, mental health conditions and substance
abuse have reached new levels as people struggle
to cope and adapt to ever-changing
circumstances. Telemental health services have
been essential in addressing this critical need
for mental health care during the pandemic. In
2020 and over the past year, the top category of
telehealth for depression diagnoses has been
mental health conditions. Of the diagnoses, the
most common is generalized anxiety disorder,
followed by major depressive disorder and
adjustment disorders, according to data from FAIR
Health. FAIR Health's Monthly Telehealth Tracker
found that mental health conditions accounted for
30 of claim line volume in January 2020. Fast
forward to June 2021, where mental health
conditions accounted for 61.3 of diagnoses of
telehealth. This marks the highest percentage
recorded since the start of the pandemic,
although overall telehealth utilization has
decreased throughout 2021. This drop in
telehealth utilization and the increase in
virtual mental health care may indicate the
success mental health patients see in providing
virtual behavioral health services. careful.
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Overcome the Stigma As many healthcare offices
and facilities have begun facilitating in-person
visits, having the option to obtain professional
treatment via telemedicine can provide a safe
environment for people struggling with stigma.
Stigma has long been associated with mental
illness and can be harmful to the one in five
American adults who live with one. Although
steps are being taken to understand mental health
and break the stigma, it remains a challenge for
many people living with mental health disorders.
With the convenience, accessibility, and privacy
that telemedicine provides, virtual therapy
sessions for mental health conditions can result
in fewer missed appointments and cancellations
and more treatments for the more than 26 million
people whose mental illnesses go
untreated. Expansion of Mental Health
Offerings The impact of the pandemic has taken a
considerable toll on employee well-being, and
employers recognize the emerging importance of
telemedicine in their healthcare benefits,
especially when it comes to the treatment of
mental health issues. In the 2021 Large Employer
Healthcare Strategy and Plan Design Survey, 91
of respondents revealed they would offer
telemental health services. An additional survey
by business membership body Business Group on
Health found that virtual tools and mental health
services are two of the top priorities among
large employers when planning their healthcare
benefits strategies for 2022 and
beyond. Barriers While mental health care
through telemedicine has its advantages, it is
not an ideal alternative for everyone. There are
cases where patients may be advised not to
perform telemedicine visits and opt for a
combination of virtual and in-person appointments
based on their mental health status. For
example, people struggling with severe social
anxiety may benefit from leaving the house for
treatment or interacting with others through
in-person group
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therapy sessions. Additionally, if the doctor
needs to perform a physical assessment of the
patient's behavioral health, distinguishing any
abnormalities, such as eye contact and body
language, may not be as detectable using
telemedicine. Forward Momentum Virtual
healthcare delivery existed pre-COVID and will
continue to evolve as an alternative for
patients when deemed appropriate. The pandemic
has shown that virtual care services are an
efficient, long-term solution for treating a
variety of health issues, especially those in
the mental health category. As employers
increasingly explore telemedicine options as they
relate to mental health, evaluating their
clients' virtual care offerings relative to their
members' needs will be essential to generating
competitive benefit.