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Telehealth – Improving Access to Mental Healthcare
by Oanh Duong
According to research, the main concerns that prevent Veterans from seeking mental health care are:
Telehealth is a virtual service where a doctor can see and provide care to patients remotely over the internet. It is essentially a private virtual doctor visit that you can attend using a device connected to the internet.
What is a Virtual Visit like?
I had a telehealth appointment with my doctor a few months ago. She sent me a link in an email message ahead of our appointment. I accessed the email message on the healthcare provider’s website using my home computer. Once I clicked the link, a video conference opened up on my computer that enabled us to see and speak to each other. Once the session was over, I simply closed the session window.
It was easy and convenient and the best part was that I did not have to leave the privacy of my own home. There was no awkwardness sitting in a waiting room with other patients, no need to worry about transportation, no significant shuffling of my personal life, and no need to explain my absence to anyone.
Preparing for a Mental Telehealth Visit
To prepare for a telehealth appointment, you will need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a reliable internet connection. If you are uncomfortable using these devices, ask someone to show you how to set it up before the appointment. The tool that your mental healthcare provider uses should be HIPAA compliant to ensure that your session has the appropriate privacy and security requirements. If you are not sure, ask your provider.
Find a private place to talk where you will not be interrupted, like a room in your house or your car. If there are safety concerns, make the necessary arrangements for a safe environment and advise your therapist. Some optional suggestions include Headphones (helpful for veterans with difficulty hearing), a microphone, and good lighting. You can also bring things that help you feel comfortable like a soft sweater or glass of water. However, do not bring anything that will distract you from your session.
If you are not sure if something is appropriate, ask your therapist.
by Oanh Duong
According to research, the main concerns that prevent Veterans from seeking mental health care are:
- Concern about what others think
- Financial, personal, and physical obstacles
- Confidence in the VA healthcare system
- Navigating VA benefits and healthcare services
- Privacy, security, and abuse of services.
Telehealth is a virtual service where a doctor can see and provide care to patients remotely over the internet. It is essentially a private virtual doctor visit that you can attend using a device connected to the internet.
What is a Virtual Visit like?
I had a telehealth appointment with my doctor a few months ago. She sent me a link in an email message ahead of our appointment. I accessed the email message on the healthcare provider’s website using my home computer. Once I clicked the link, a video conference opened up on my computer that enabled us to see and speak to each other. Once the session was over, I simply closed the session window.
It was easy and convenient and the best part was that I did not have to leave the privacy of my own home. There was no awkwardness sitting in a waiting room with other patients, no need to worry about transportation, no significant shuffling of my personal life, and no need to explain my absence to anyone.
Preparing for a Mental Telehealth Visit
To prepare for a telehealth appointment, you will need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a reliable internet connection. If you are uncomfortable using these devices, ask someone to show you how to set it up before the appointment. The tool that your mental healthcare provider uses should be HIPAA compliant to ensure that your session has the appropriate privacy and security requirements. If you are not sure, ask your provider.
Find a private place to talk where you will not be interrupted, like a room in your house or your car. If there are safety concerns, make the necessary arrangements for a safe environment and advise your therapist. Some optional suggestions include Headphones (helpful for veterans with difficulty hearing), a microphone, and good lighting. You can also bring things that help you feel comfortable like a soft sweater or glass of water. However, do not bring anything that will distract you from your session.
If you are not sure if something is appropriate, ask your therapist.
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Anxiety
Mental health appointments can bring on anxiety and heightened emotions. You can help focus some of that energy ahead of your appointment by writing down a list of:
- Topics that you would like to discuss
- Any issues and what you think might be the root cause
- Feelings that bother you
- Triggers that activate your feelings and reactions
- Your strengths and what you do to cope
The list can be updated as your therapy progresses. I like the idea of not deleting items. Only updating the list with new insights will give you a chance to look back and note any changes.
Resist doing online searches to diagnose yourself. For some, it can intensify anxiety. Instead ask your therapist questions and allow them to guide you. Talking about things that elicit strong emotions can be exhausting and it is not uncommon to forget key points from your session. It may be helpful to have something on which you can take notes that will help you recall important details later. It may also give you something to reflect upon in your next appointment.
An Opportunity to Focus on You
Mental telehealth visits are opportunities to focus on your mental health in a setting that is safe, familiar, and convenient for you. Keep an open mind and be honest with yourself and your therapist.
Liberty Medical Center of Texas offers mental telehealth services to support our veterans regardless of discharge status or VA benefits eligibility. Veterans can visit the center’s website to become a member and to find out more about its services.
The center is a non-profit organization that relies on donations and volunteers to provide quality care for our veterans. If you would like to help, please visit the center’s website for more information.
Article Sources:
Ann M. Cheney, Christopher J. Koenig, Christopher J. Miller, Kara Zamora, Patricia Wright, Regina Stanley, John Fortney, James F. Burgess & Jeffrey M. Pyne,“Veteran-centered barriers to VA mental healthcare services use” https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-018-3346-9
Elena Muller, MPH, “HIPAA Compliant Telehealth Beyond COVID-19”, https://www.healthrecoverysolutions.com/blog/hipaa-compliant-telehealth-beyond-covid-19
Dr. Sean Paul, “5 Ways to Prepare for an Online Psychiatrist Appointment” https://nowpsych.com/online-psychiatrist-appointment/
Susan Kelly “Rise of telehealth during pandemic boosted mental health treatment rates” (January 9, 2023) HEALTHCAREDIVE. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/telehealth-mental-health-JAMA-pandemic/639905/#:~:text=The%20increase%20in%20the%20use,published%20in%20JAMA%20Health%20Forum.
“The Barriers and Benefits of Expanding Telehealth Access for Veterans” Caregility, https://caregility.com/blog/the-barriers-and-benefits-of-expanding-telehealth-access-for-veterans/
To become a member and receive our services, please apply on our Liberty Medical Center of Texas Form and learn more about how we can help you today.
