AI Article Synopsis

  • The COVID-19 pandemic forced mental health care providers to quickly switch from in-person to online services due to social distancing measures.
  • A survey of 51 mental health professionals in the Netherlands revealed challenges like technological issues and difficulties in building rapport with clients in online settings.
  • Despite some drawbacks, practitioners noted benefits such as more effective treatment, greater flexibility, and reduced travel time, emphasizing the need for improved technological and organizational support.

Article Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated sudden and radical changes in mental health care delivery, as strict social distancing and lockdown measures were imposed in the early phases of the pandemic. Almost overnight, practitioners were forced to transfer their face-to-face care practice to online means. To understand the implications of this drastic change for mental health care, and to improve the online care offerings, an online qualitative survey was held among mental health care professionals in Netherlands ( = 51). Our findings indicate that technological and usability problems pose a significant challenge, as do difficulties to establish rapport with clients. Moreover, not all mental health issues and treatment forms are equally amenable to online interaction. In contrast, in many instances, practitioners were positive about the effectiveness of treatment, and reported flexibility, a lower threshold for contact, and lack of travel time as advantages. Their most prominent needs concern better technological, organizational, and logistical support. It is critical that these needs are acted upon by institutions and governments. In addition, current results inform future research on the improvement of e-mental health technologies.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0370DOI Listing

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