Mental health is an important issue in our society that should not be taken lightly. Although many businesses have begun to open up more since the beginning of the pandemic, many people are still suffering from mental health problems generated by being confined to their homes. Last year we all got a taste of what homebound people experience every day, specifically elderly folks and people with terminal illnesses that restrict them to their homes. Many people were alone in their homes. This would have been extremely hard on an individual’s mental health because humans are very social creatures. Virtual healthcare is a great solution to this issue. Continue reading to learn how virtual healthcare can help with mental health issues.
Virtual healthcare is a section of the broader topic of telehealth. Telehealth is a system that allows for medical professionals to distribute information and health resources through technology. Virtual healthcare is the part of telehealth in which virtual appointments are scheduled between physicians and their patients in real time via video programs. One video program that many of us are familiar with these days is Zoom, but typically these virtual sessions would be through software that is made specifically for healthcare purposes.
Virtual healthcare helps people who are confined to their homes due to illness or old age. The first reason why virtual healthcare is helpful is that if an individual’s complications become more severe, they can contact medical professionals without having to leave their home and exposing themselves to something or others to their illness. The second reason for this is that it can be very hard to be stuck at home with an illness or as an elderly person, especially if they do not live with other people. Virtual healthcare can give homebound folks a way to speak to somebody and not feel so lonely in their homes.
Telemedicine is a wonderful option for treating depression. Using technology to treat mental health is a more specific form of virtual healthcare and telemedicine called telepsychiatry. Depression is a very common mental illness and unfortunately is often left undiagnosed. Part of this may be due to fear and because sometimes people just cannot find the words to express how they are feeling.
The reason why telemedicine and virtual healthcare are great ways to treat depression is because a person with depression does not have to make their way to a clinic to tell somebody how they are feeling. It is much easier to make a phone call and set up a virtual appointment. Virtual healthcare is also a great way to have consultations with patients with depression because it creates the same effect as an in person meeting and allows for more flexibility and comfort for the patient and the therapist.
In addition to depression, virtual healthcare can help with mental health issues. This may include diagnosing patients, providing different treatments, and ensuring that patients are receiving the best care. Virtual healthcare provides a way for individuals to get emotional support when in-person visits are too stressful or simply unavailable. Lastly, virtual healthcare offers a simple way for healthcare professionals to contact multiple individuals at once for group therapy.
Let’s be honest, this last year made it extremely difficult for individuals to receive proper care for their mental health. This last year also saw a significant increase in the number of cases of depression and anxiety. It can be difficult to keep up with all of your patients, but here at CareXM, we are happy to help you manage your calls and virtual appointments. Contact us for more information and to hear about the different options available to you.