Mental health is one of the biggest issues in society today, and the need for accessible and effective treatment has never been higher. Thousands of veterans faced severe mental health issues like PTSD, depression, or anxiety that made their transition to civilian life difficult after years devoted to the service. Telehealth, an abstraction of care delivery via technology using a remote platform to receive healthcare, has recently emerged as yet another beacon of hope for thousands of veterans requiring critical mental health services. But just how successful the virtual mental health care is particularly at preventing one of the most tragic outcomes, suicide, remains in question. A new study in JAMA Network can help shed some light on just that. So, that increase in the use of this sort of virtual mental health care, which is becoming more and more popular around the world, could in fact mean a lower risk of suicide among veterans. The discovery provides an exciting glimpse of the future where mental health treatment is concerned, as researchers point out that it may be able to benefit those most at risk of struggling to get traditional treatment.
Key Facts
- For every one percent rise in virtual mental health visits, suicides and suicide-related events fall by 2.5%.
- Associate virtual attention with more convenience, improved patient comfort, and less stigma.
- Veterans who participated more in virtual care had fewer suicide attempts as compared to those who did not.
This research, led by Dr. Kertu Tenso and her team, concentrated on veterans who had recently separated from the armed forces, a group that often faces increased risks for mental illness or suicide. With data from over 16,000 veterans, the research group determined that the more virtual mental health services veterans use, the less their risk of having suicide-related events. To put it another way, every time that the proportion of virtual visits increased, there was a corresponding drop in the risk of suicide attempts, intentional self-harm, or suicide deaths. “Our findings indicate that virtual mental health services are not only effective but also lifesaving for those most at risk,” notes Dr. Tenso.
What’s most significant about this research is the way telehealth erases access barriers to care. For veterans, who typically bear the stigma of seeking mental health help, virtual visits offer one more layer of privacy and security that in-person visits sometimes lack. Telehealth is also convenient; veterans no longer need time spent shuttling back and forth between clinics or hospitals, a chore even more arduous for those in rural regions. This flexibility really seems to make a difference in people’s willingness to get help when they couldn’t before, without the added strain of travel or the fear that they might be seen asking for it.
In addition to all these cases, telepsychiatry has shown to produce a very novel kind of therapeutic relationship. It’s more relaxing to be at home during a session and talk about your most heartbreaking feelings with a Freudian analyst. Dr. Steven Pizer, a co-author of the study, said, “Teletherapy sessions provide a sense of shared social connection and psychological safety, which are crucial for successful therapy.” This is especially important for dealing with trauma or anxieties among veterans; they are more likely to engage and stay committed when they feel comfortable in their own environment.
Another interesting aspect of this study was the emphasis it placed on the role of access. Researchers assigned the availability of broadband internet in rural and metropolitan areas as a key factor in their study methods. With better internet access, vets took virtual services more reliably, and thus significantly fewer suicide-related events happened. This underscores the need for universal facilities in technology: everyone, including remote areas or deprived urban neighborhoods where veterans might live, should be born into virtual care through networks of computers. As Dr. Melissa M. Garrido pointed out, “Ensuring broadband access is not just a matter of connecting people to the internet. It is about connecting them with vital health services that can ultimately save lives.”
While the findings of this study are promising, it is important to recognize the difficulties too. Virtual mental health services may not suit everyone. Some veterans might have problems with bad or nonexistent internet connections; others may prefer in-person treatment. For yet others, the mere prospect of privacy could threaten the efficacy of a session, even conducted online. This research makes it clear that although telehealth may be super effective, it should be seen as an adjunct to traditional in-person care, not a replacement for it. Providing a mix of both ensures that individuals can select the best fit for their special needs and comfort levels.
These findings suggest that broadening telehealth services and improving internet infrastructure can have a huge public health impact. It is possible that these findings may be reflective in part of policymakers deciding where to allocate funds, particularly in rural areas where there is often limited access to mental health care.Nevertheless, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is making strides toward virtual mental healthcare for veterans, with programs such as VA Video Connect and other initiatives widely used during the coronavirus pandemic. To this end, continued support and funding plus new ideas could well be critical to preventing suicide and enhancing the positivity of veterans around America.
Dr. Tenso pointed out, “We need to go to the veterans wherever they are. Sometimes that will mean doing it virtually.”
For more information, visit: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.43054
