How Technology Is Expanding Access to Mental Health Care

In recent years, mental health care has enjoyed more time in the spotlight as organizations and individuals work hard to normalize it. In previous decades, mental health concerns were often mercilessly stigmatized and scrutinized. Thankfully, society is now beginning to recognize how important it is to optimize mental wellness.

Therapy is an important part of many people's mental wellness routines. However, not everyone feels like they can easily access the mental healthcare services they need. There are still many barriers to overcome when seeking therapy, from geographical limitations to financial constraints. Here's how technology is breaking down those barriers and expanding access to mental health care.

Geographical and Cultural Limitations

It's often difficult for individuals in underserved or rural areas to get access to in-person mental healthcare services. There may be a shortage of qualified therapists in the immediate area, or overworked local therapists may not be able to accept new patients. There are also potential language and cultural barriers for individuals who belong to ethnic or racial minorities.

How Technology Can Help

Technology can help break through geographical and cultural limitations by making it easier for people to find therapists who aren't located in their immediate area. Getting therapy online is a great way to gain immediate access to a wide range of therapists who specialize in different areas. As long as your therapist is licensed in your state, you can meet with them online, no matter how far away they may be located.

Health and Mobility Limitations

Some people have physical or mental health conditions that make it prohibitively difficult for them to see a therapist. Physical mobility issues or serious mental health disorders might make it impossible for them to drive to a mental health care provider's location. For these reasons and more, some people with health and mobility issues have historically been underserved in regard to their mental wellness needs.

How Technology Can Help

Technology removes mental healthcare barriers for people with health and mobility limitations. It allows historically underserved individuals to receive therapy and other mental health services from the comfort of their own homes. They don't have to arrange for others to drive them from their homes to their therapy appointments and back. Instead, they can engage in their therapy sessions from practically any location. Many online therapists offer treatment sessions via telephone, video conferencing, email conversations, or text messaging.

Financial Constraints

Just as it's important to invest in your physical health, it's also crucial to invest in your mental well-being. However, some people may still struggle to pay for regular appointments with an in-person therapist. They may also find it challenging to pay for the gas required to drive back and forth to in-person appointments.

How Technology Can Help

Technology can reduce financial barriers to mental healthcare by making it more affordable for the average person. Online therapy is often more affordable than in-person therapy because online therapists typically have lower overhead costs. Therefore, they often charge less money per treatment session. Getting mental healthcare online can also help patients save money on gas because they don't have to commute to their treatment sessions.

Fear of Stigma

Mental healthcare is becoming less stigmatized than it once was. However, it's still not uncommon for patients to want privacy when it comes to their mental healthcare needs. They may worry that someone they know will see them driving to a therapist's house or sitting in the waiting room before an appointment. The fear of being judged or scrutinized by neighbors or acquaintances might be strong enough to keep some people from receiving the care they need.

How Technology Can Help

Technology can help remove potential embarrassment associated with mental health treatments by making sessions discreet and private. Patients can log into their appointments from the privacy of a bedroom, office, or any other secure location of their choosing. They don't need to worry about others potentially seeing them at the therapist's office or overhearing their private conversations.

Limited Availability

Some people can't fit traditional therapy appointments into their regular schedules because they're so busy with work, school, and other commitments. Most in-person therapists practice during regular business hours, making it difficult for people who work during those hours to get the care they need. Limited therapist availability can be a huge barrier to mental healthcare accessibility.

How Technology Can Help

Technology can remove mental health care barriers caused by limited availability because it gives professionals access to therapists who offer flexible scheduling. It's often easier to find an online therapist with flexible treatment hours than it is to find an in-person therapist with good availability. Patients can search for an online therapist who offers evening, weekend, or early morning therapy sessions that fit into their busy schedules.

Find Your Preferred Online Therapist

Everyone should be able to access mental health care services when they need them. Some people may find it easy to locate and meet with an in-person therapist regularly. Others may face barriers that make it more challenging to get the care they require. Fortunately, technology can help remove mental health care accessibility barriers so that more people can prioritize their mental wellness.