Innovations in technology have paved the way for new developments in how medical services are delivered. One of these is telehealth, which involves consulting with a healthcare provider without going to a clinic or office. Instead, the consultation is conducted over the phone or online using a computer or mobile device.
Innovations in technology have paved the way for new developments in how medical services are delivered. One of these is telehealth, which involves consulting with a healthcare provider without going to a clinic or office. Instead, the consultation is conducted over the phone or online using a computer or mobile device.
Although telehealth has been around for quite some time now, its popularity and utilisation greatly increased during the past couple of years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent the spread of the disease during this period, various measures were implemented, such as lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing.
In order to accommodate people’s need for medical services during the lockdowns, telehealth was adopted as a primary means of conducting healthcare consultations. It provided everyone with a convenient way of speaking to a medical professional without violating protocols or compromising their health.
Even though the global pandemic is already over, telehealth still remains a vital tool for providing medical services. One of the health sectors where telehealth thrives is mental health treatment.
Mental health has become a global issue. In Australia alone, two out of five individuals, or roughly 8.6 million people, have experienced a mental health disorder at one point in their lives. Although the prevalence of mental health disorders has been linked to different factors, they can still be addressed through telehealth services. After all, telehealth provides people living with mental health disorders with a way to access much-needed mental health treatment.
In some cases, people with mental health disorders don’t seek treatment due to factors that prevent them from doing so. As a result, they end up living with the emotional, cognitive, or physical effects of their conditions, which can prevent them from effectively socialising with their peers or participating in their communities.
As a pathway to mental health treatment, telehealth services can help people overcome barriers to accessing treatment services for their conditions. Below are some of the most common barriers to mental health treatment.
There is a social stigma that makes people struggling with mental health disorders feel ashamed of themselves, which prevents them from seeking the help that they need out of fear of being judged by others. In some cases, they choose not to acknowledge the fact they need mental health treatment. They’re afraid that the people around them might treat them differently once they learn about their condition.
Telehealth offers a safe space by allowing individuals with mental health disorders to seek necessary services from the privacy of their own homes. Through telephone or virtual sessions, they are able to get the help they need without physically entering shared public spaces or facilities that are clearly identified as psychology or psychiatric clinics. +
The lack of mental health awareness and education in a person’s environment is another common barrier to mental health treatment. Usually, when an individual is ill or injured, their symptoms can be easily identified, such as a painful limb, a sickly appearance, or an unusually high body temperature.
The symptoms of mental health disorders, on the other hand, are much more subtle. Due to the limited availability of educational resources about mental health, individuals, including the person experiencing mental health issues, may not be able to immediately identify the symptoms of these conditions. This can prevent them from acknowledging the need to consult with a mental health expert.
Living in remote and regional areas can make it challenging for people with mental health disorders to seek proper treatment. That’s because facilities and services that cater to mental health wellbeing are often in limited supply in regional and rural areas. This means they’ll have to travel greater distances for their appointments, which can be an issue for those who have tight schedules or limited resources.
In addition to the time and financial constraints, the absence of direct access to mental health services and professionals in regional areas can also lead to a lack of awareness. As mentioned earlier, people will most likely not seek mental health treatment due to their lack of knowledge about this matter.
In addition to the general public, another group of people who can benefit from telehealth services are participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Since this program caters to individuals with disabilities, providing them with telehealth services allows them to get in touch with their healthcare and service providers in a more convenient and practical manner.
Telehealth also helps NDIS participants with mental health disorders receive the right type of treatment that they need for their condition. It breaks down the barriers mentioned above by providing them with a direct, safe, and effective way to consult with a mental health professional.
Below are the other ways telehealth can help NDIS participants improve their mental health.
Since telehealth consultations can be conducted online or over the phone, NDIS participants no longer need to travel for in-person appointments. In addition to reducing travel costs, telehealth appointments can be easily carried out on a schedule that’s convenient for both NDIS participants and mental health care providers.
NDIS participants who are struggling with anxiety, agoraphobia, or other mental health issues that can prevent them from socialising or interacting with others in person can greatly benefit from virtual consultations. Telehealth offers a safe space where NDIS participants can get the right type of support that they need without fear of being judged or discriminated against by others due to their condition.
By eliminating the social stigma that’s associated with seeking mental health treatment, telehealth services can guide NDIS participants on their journey to recovery.
As mentioned earlier, telehealth became widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to allow people to access medical services without compromising their health. Likewise, since NDIS participants no longer have to visit mental health treatment facilities for their appointments, telehealth greatly minimises their risk of being exposed to harmful viruses and diseases. It also means that NDIS participants can still access the services they need during times of sickness.
Through telehealth services, NDIS participants are no longer restricted to seeking the support services of nearby providers. Through virtual appointments and consultations, they can receive treatment from mental health professionals from different parts of Australia.
Similarly, telehealth services can solve one of the most common issues faced by NDIS participants living in rural or regional areas, which is the lack of mental health treatment services and facilities. Through telehealth, they can easily receive the treatment they need without traveling to a different city.
One of the essential services that can be delivered through telehealth is Recovery Coaching. Recovery Coaching is a relatively new type of support offered under the NDIS to help participants struggling with psychosocial disabilities.
These disabilities, which can arise from various mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, can affect the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social capabilities of individuals. Recovery coaching aims to address the effects of psychosocial disabilities by providing the necessary support to help NDIS participants become active and contributing members of their communities.
Through telehealth appointments and consultations, NDIS participants who have psychosocial disabilities can receive the appropriate mental health treatment and support that they need in a safe and practical manner. More importantly, these services can help participants overcome the barriers to accessing mental health treatment.
Aside from these, telehealth recovery coaching can also help improve the mental health of NDIS participants in various ways. These include:
Through telehealth, Recovery Coaches can carry out regular virtual check-ins with NDIS participants. In these online sessions, the coaches can keep track of the participants’ mental health progress and provide the necessary support that they need.
Telehealth consultations provide Recovery Coaches with a practical and efficient way to educate NDIS participants about their mental health issues. These sessions enable them to gain a better understanding of their daily activities and habits, allowing them to make more informed recommendations for their recovery journey.
Virtual recovery coaching sessions provide a safe space where NDIS participants can open up regarding their conditions without worrying about being judged by others. In turn, the coaches can help reduce their feelings of loneliness and isolation by validating their feelings.
NDIS participants can learn about various skills and practices that can help them manage their mental health symptoms through telehealth sessions with their Recovery Coaches. These can include relaxation exercises and social skills.
Through regular virtual check-ins, Recovery Coaches can encourage NDIS participants in conjunction with other support providers to adopt and continuously follow various self-care practices. These include developing basic hygiene habits, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly.
Conclusion
Telehealth has certainly been proven as an effective means to deliver essential healthcare services, such as mental health treatment. Through telehealth Recovery Coaching, NDIS participants with psychosocial disabilities can break through the barriers to mental health treatment and receive the necessary support that they need.
If you or someone you know is in need of Recovery Coaching, make sure to get in touch with a professional, trusted, and reliable service provider such as Sureway. Our telehealth service is designed to support individuals living with mental health disorders and help them access quality treatment options. Also, our Recovery Coaches can implement NDIS plans to help manage the challenges of daily living.
Get in touch with us today and book an appointment.
