Telepsychiatry and e-Mental Health Services: Potential for Improving Access to Mental Health Care

• DOI: 10.1007/s11126-006-9019-6
• Publication Date: 2006-08-23T09:32:20Z
• Authors: Kaye L. McGinty; Sy Atezaz Saeed; Scott C. Simmons; Yilmaz Yildirim
• Keywords: Mental Health Services; Psychiatry; Internet; 02 engineering and technology; Health Services Accessibility; Telemedicine; United States; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; Humans; Insurance, Psychiatric

Reforming mental health care is a focus of many ongoing initiatives in the United States, both at the national and state levels. Access to adequate mental health care services is one of the identified problems. Telepsychiatry and e-mental health services could improve access to mental health care in rural, remote and underserved areas. The authors discuss the required technology, common applications and barriers associated with the implementation of telepsychiatry and e-mental health services.