Online Therapy to Digitalize Mental Health Assistance

MedTech Outlook | Thursday, June 27, 2019

Mental health appears as the most debilitating and widespread health concern. Internet-based consultations can blur the lines between healthcare and patients.  

FREMONT, CA: The scopes of evolving technologies in the field of healthcare are many. One such advancement is the concept of virtual mental healthcare. Mental healthcare services offered online to patients have a lot of advantages. Many healthcare firms have undertaken projects to test the viability and effectiveness of such online consultations and have reported good response.

Studies have concluded that online therapy can be as effective as face-to-face therapy sessions for patients suffering from mental health problems, especially the common ones, which include stress, anxiety, and depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy on the internet is likely to allow patients to undergo treatment without having to visit a physical healthcare facility or meeting for an in-person consultation. This is especially favorable in the cases where patients know that they need medical assistance, but they don't feel well enough to visit a psychologist, psychiatrist, or a medical professional. In places which do not have enough mental healthcare related facilities, people can depend on online mental health platforms for personalized treatment.

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Online approaches can vary depending upon the platform from where one opts for service, but they are sure to be streamlined to conduct thorough sessions after initiating online contact and engagement. The first step mostly involves information collection and assessment of condition after which a doctor or counselor is assigned to the patient. The duration of therapy varies from one patient to another, and studies have found that people opting for online support have been able to stick to their treatment better than those who went in for in-person consultation. 

These digital mental health service platforms also offer the option of assistance in case conditions deteriorate even after online treatment. Continuous assessment by professionals is vital in case of mental health issues, and the provision of internet-based check-ups create the ideal conditions for it. Treatment also becomes highly cost-effective this way.

Complex mental health conditions can also benefit from these online platforms to a reasonable extent as the companies are trying to bring up a multi-disciplinary approach into treatment by enabling consultation with a group of specialists rather than just one expert. Technology helps healthcare give its best to patients.