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