When it comes to providing equity and access for adolescents to mental health resources, teletherapy, sometimes called telepsychiatry or tele-mental health, is transformative. It is a game-changer for educators, administrators, or anyone working to help youth who may not have easy access to mental health resources. As the practice becomes more mainstream, many have questions about the effectiveness, viability, and safety of the use of telehealth practices in the mental health space. The concept of teletherapy has been around since the late 50s. By the 2000s research into the effectiveness of the practice showed that teletherapy was safe, efficient, and a capable alternative to in-person therapy.
In an article on the history of telepsychiatry for the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Alexander Von Hafften said, “Telepsychiatry is equivalent to in-person care in diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, and patient satisfaction; it often saves time, money, and other resources.” He went on to say that privacy and confidentiality issues parallel in-person care and the practice leverages specialty expertise thereby facilitating healthcare reform.
Growing Teletherapy Practices
Families and youth currently working with teletherapy have a higher level of trust in the process. However, training in residency and fellowship programs needs to be more prevalent in order to reach an even greater number of underserved populations. Dr. Patricio Fischman, DFAACAP, and Dr. Deepika Shaligram, FAPA talk about this in their “History of Telepsychiatry in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry” article for the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. They conclude that, while the mental health needs of youth grow, teletherapy is helping to meet those needs at increasing rates.
“Telepsychiatry with youth is not new, but the revolution in telecommunications has converged with decreased costs and public mandates for more equitable access to care to make telepsychiatry a feasible alternative to in-person treatment for children and adolescents,” the article reads.
Dr. Fischman goes on to talk about the increased need to support the advancement of providers in telepsychiatry. “Families have readily accepted telepsychiatry as an alternative to traditional venues for care,” he said. “But providers and training programs have been slower to adapt their practices to include telepsychiatry.”
Teletherapy for Youth in Practice
Research clearly shows that teletherapy is beneficial and many experts agree we need to see teletherapy reach a wider audience. Families and youth are fairly comfortable with the practice, especially as technology is so widely adapted in today’s society. So, what does teletherapy in practice look like for adolescents and their care providers? It looks like a solution to a myriad of problems facing today’s students. Many obstacles to mental healthcare are overcome by the simple addition of teletherapy to the equation.
With teletherapy, youth are able to receive private, quality mental healthcare. All that’s needed is a private space and an internet connection. Issues such as scheduling, privacy, and access are all solved by teletherapy. Further, youth are already comfortable with the technology utilized in teletherapy, making the entire experience more comfortable for them.
An article published by Lamar University provides an overview of many of the benefits of the use of teletherapy. Those benefits include access, flexibility, continuity and consistency, cost savings, and accommodation of patient comfort.
Telement is a partner to schools and nonprofits working to provide easier access to mental health support for school-aged children. We have a team of licensed school psychologists, clinical social workers, and mental health clinicians readily available to talk through a private and secure network. To find out how we can partner with your organization to provide mental health support, connect with us online.
