Significant barriers in shift to remote mental health services during pandemic

Person using laptop - Source: StartupStockPhotos on  Pixabay - During the COVID-19 pandemic, many mental health care service users were able to continue accessing some support by phone and video call (remote care), but the shift to remote care presented significant barriers to certain groups, finds a review co-led by UCL researchers. The authors of the systematic review are calling for further examination into the effects of telemental health on groups at risk of digital exclusion and for better evidence on long-term impacts. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research , reviewed a total of 77 primary research papers from five countries. It found that the implementation of telemental health services - provided by video, phone call, or messaging - allowed some continued support to a majority of service users during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted its value in emergency situations. The benefits of remote care include increased convenience and accessibility for staff and patients and reduced travel costs. Additionally, some studies reported that more family members were able to attend family therapy or family education sessions since care was moved online. However, the shift to telemental health also presented challenges, such as difficulties in picking up on non-verbal cues and establishing a strong therapeutic relationship.