Over the last few years, telehealth has become more mainstream and has gained a foothold in the healthcare system as a reliable way for patients to connect with their healthcare providers. As schools see a rise in students who need to connect with mental health therapists, we have to begin asking if teletherapy would work specifically in schools? There are five reasons why the answer is a resounding, YES:
1. School is a constant in a student’s life
Whether students are in-school, virtual, or participating in a hybrid system, students are able to access their therapist through phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. It’s a routine students are accustomed to and it provides the necessary structure to facilitate a teletherapy session.
Some may say school is a place for learning – not a healthcare site. However, there are a multitude of reasons why students perform poorly in school and one of these is lack of adequate healthcare, including access to mental health. Why not make it easier for students to get the basic services they need so they can excel in school?
2. Access to Technology
Generally, schools have access to a computer, wifi, and quiet space that a student would need to access their teletherapy session. Depending on a student’s home life, it can be rather difficult for a student to participate in a session if they have spotty wifi via a mobile data plan or have to contend with noise and distractions from other household members. Teletherapy at school can provide the privacy that a student needs to fully participate in therapy.
3. A School Setting Can Act as a Safe Space
Speaking of home situations, teachers and therapists don’t know what’s happening at home and school can act as a neutral zone or safe space for a majority of children. It also allows students to feel comfortable in their teletherapy session and not feel outside pressure from family members in regards to mental health.
4. Shrinking or overworked school staff
With many districts cutting back on hiring and staffing, teletherapy can be a great option for schools. Florida schools can use their mental health allocation funding to contract with telehealth providers like Telement to provide mental health access to stay compliant with Senate Bill 7026. Telement offers a streamlined onboarding process in which we can start seeing your students within a couple of days. We work with and compliment your current staff and mental health support system.
5. Familiar technology
Students are comfortable and knowledgeable on how to use video software to conduct their teletherapy session thanks to Facetime and other social media apps. Telement uses safe, HIPAA-compliant technology to connect therapists and students.
Learn how to Implement a Telehealth Therapy Program at Your School
Even after the pandemic, teletherapy will continue to grow and become more commonplace rather than a novelty. Thankfully, Florida schools already have the funding to utilize this method to provide therapy for their students. If you would like to offer mental health access to your students, please contact us for more information or attend a demo to learn more about how we work with students in real-time to solve real struggles.
