Bridging the Gaps Between Screens: Can telehealth bring mental healthcare to those who need it?

Abstract

Amid the United States' growing rates of anxiety and depression, an opioid epidemic, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for accessible mental healthcare continues to rise. While virtual care may seem like a simple solution to this access problem, resource, regulatory, and financial barriers can prevent those who most need care from connecting with mental health professionals. Via interviews with mental healthcare providers, public health experts, and patients, this project looks into the potential and limitations of telemental health when it comes to solving the United States' mental healthcare crisis.