Telehealth and Mental Health: Strengths and Drawbacks

The COVID-19 pandemic propelled telehealth into mainstream mental health care, with strengths and drawbacks. Policy changes led to a surge in telehealth usage, growing from 39.4% in 2019 to 88.1% in 2022. Two key forms include asynchronous messaging for efficient medication adjustments and real-time video consultations. Telehealth benefits include care collaboration, addressing physical limitations, and facilitating medication prescriptions. However, challenges like technology issues, limited intervention capacity, and privacy concerns exist. Despite this, telehealth remains a revolutionary force, expanding access to mental health care and improving patient outcomes, especially in remote or underserved areas.