A second wave of the pandemic will be driven by intense feelings of anxiety and despair in a world that is no longer predictable and safe due to high rates of unemployment and homelessness coupled with traumatic memories of surviving one’s own brush with COVID-19 or the death of a partner, parent, or loved one.
The personal, social, and economic burden of human suffering, treatment costs, disability compensation, and productivity losses related to mental health problems in normal times have been major public health issues in the US and worldwide.
This pandemic has served to amplify the personal, social, and economic costs of mental illness to a magnitude that is unprecedented. It is likely that the mental health consequences of COVID-19 will become the most urgent public health challenge worldwide for decades to come, impacting the well-being and productivity of billions. If left untreated, the psychiatric sequelae associated with the pandemic will have serious long-term social and financial consequences for all areas of human life, including personal relationships, family dynamics, academic performance, and work productivity.
The need for a comprehensive strategy
Developing and implementing programs aimed at enhancing resilience and treating individuals struggling with the mental health consequences of COVID-19 deserves the same urgent priority that is now being assigned to the development and testing of vaccines and antivirals. Large scale proactive measures are a key part of successfully preparing millions of people as they resume their day-to-day lives and livelihoods and is an essential step in re-starting stalled economies on a global scale. In the absence of such proactive measures, COVID-19’s long-term global impact on mental health could easily be as devastating and costly as the financial impact of the virus.
Rethinking the usual model of care
Such large-scale programs must be realistic from a cost perspective. Implementing resources that are both adequate and affordable calls for a review of limitations of the existing model of mental health care. In the current model of care (so-called usual care), individuals with medical problems are triaged and treated by family physicians while individuals with mental health complaints are seen in a different outpatient setting by psychiatrists and psychologists. The result is that individuals who have both medical and mental health problems typically receive care at different times, in different clinical settings, and from different clinicians who often do not have pertinent information about pre-existing health problems and treatment history. In outpatient medical clinics, the priority on efficient triage of medical problems may cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment of serious psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, due to the limited time spent screening patients for mental health problems.
Although usual care segregates medical care and mental health services, depressed mood, anxiety, and other common mental health problems are frequently comorbid with medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, lung disorders, chronic pain, and diabetes. In addition, usual care is associated with disparities in the delivery of mental health services to different socioeconomic classes.
It’s a scientific fact that online-psychotherapy can be as effective as face-to-face conventional therapy. In fact, the combination of e-therapy and medication are far more effective than medication alone—and yet this low-cost and easily accessible alternative to conventional therapy often goes overlooked as a therapeutic treatment. Numerous research studies support these findings, including a review of 30 trials of internet-based therapies published over the past decade, and another of 26 trials showing improvement in anxiety and stress in guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy in as little as four to eight weeks.
Online Psychotherapy delivers maximum impact with minimal cost and yet it is still seldom used and poorly understood. If health professionals want to make a positive impact on mental health care in North America, this needs to change. Good quality Online Psychotherapy is readily available and advantages of implementing are many, including:
Effectiveness: Reviews of trials conducted over the past 20 years show that guided online psychotherapy is as effective as conventional face-to-face therapy.
Affordability: It’s no secret that the expense of face-to-face therapy is prohibitive for some people, especially coupled with insurance plans that provide little-to-no coverage. These factors can keep people who would otherwise seek therapy from starting treatment. Online Psychotherapy has affordable options.
Convenience: Another major obstacle to regular treatment is finding time in a busy schedule to sit down with a therapist. Online Psychotherapy makes it possible for a person to seek therapy that fits their schedule. For those who are reluctant to leave home due to therapeutic issues, this could be a lifesaver.
No limits: Many health insurance plans limit the number of therapeutic sessions they cover. Online Psychotherapy has no such restrictions and can extend indefinitely.
Support: Physical issues often have an emotional or psychological component and yet patients can be reluctant to visit yet another doctor. For people living with chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease or traumatic injury, an inability to leave the house can be a major impediment to treatment. Online Psychotherapy can provide the emotional and psychological support necessary right from home.
Online Psychotherapy isn’t for everyone, but studies have shown its effectiveness for everything from depression and anxiety to eating disorders, ADHD and ASD support, and stress-reduction. It may sound cutting-edge today, but I predict it will become the wave of the future as people who were outside of the usual treatment areas embrace an opportunity to improve their mental health and emotional well-being.
Bottom line: Online Psychotherapy can deliver maximum impact for minimal cost, but the best choice is guided therapy according to research. Studies have shown that Online Psychotherapy is effective for a wide variety of psychological and emotional needs and can demonstrably improve the outcome of treatment over medication alone.
Music Psychology Center – MPC offers Online Psychotherapy for individuals suffering from Stress, Anxiety, Depression and PTSD. Contact Details: [email protected] (+639551523344)
SOURCE: Lake, J. (2020) and Kingston, D. (2017)
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