Even with the influx of vaccinations happening across the US, the symptoms of COVID-19 still run rampant. Beyond the physical impact, there is another pandemic. The mental health effects of ongoing lockdowns, job-loss and death affecting the population has created an entirely new wave of mental health crises.
Although they’ve been unable to get help in-person, telehealth services have skyrocketed. They’ve become a lifeline for people of all ages, including college students who are displaced or struggling to return to life as it was. Below are a few of the benefits of telehealth services and how they’re improving people’s lives. If you’re interested in following up, you can stay up to date with industry news by reviewing a guide.
Emotional Wellbeing
In addition to masking up and trying to social distance, many people have spent the last year isolated, so much so that their mental health has suffered. Thankfully, they can now reach out to a professional and begin to confront challenging circumstances in their life from the comfort of home. People now have access to mental health professionals around the clock, which not only improves their emotional wellbeing but can ease feelings of loneliness as well. Young people who have lost relatives and friends to COVID can especially benefit from reaching out and talking to a therapist. Moving through grief happens in stages, and combating the feelings of hopelessness and loneliness that pervade it is crucial to healing.
Anxiety and Depression
College-age individuals have experienced unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression since the March 2020 outbreak. In addition to quarantining and trying to manage online courses, many have had to deal with not seeing their friends and missing out on major milestones like in-person graduations. Schools have teamed up with telehealth providers to help students get affordable, confidential mental health support with the click of a button.
With treatment, even severe depression and anxiety can be managed. The earlier someone gets help, the higher the chance that they’ll make a full recovery. Letting anxiety and depression go for too long causes a string of other serious sideeffects that only perpetuate the conditions. Therapy, especially virtual, provides students with help they may not be comfortable getting in person.
Mobile Support Groups
In addition to online medical care, telehealth apps are now expanding and offer support group apps for people needing a helping hand or extra emotional support. These apps let people connect in a safe place without judgement and offer each other the support they need when dealing with anxiety and feelings of depression. Although many usually go to their friends with problems, stigma, stereotypes and even the symptoms of a disorder can make someone feel like they’re completely alone.Rather than simply being comforted by someone who is on the outside looking in, support groups provide students with a space to connect with other people going through similar feelings.
Improved Medical Care
Telehealth has expanded to support the integration of multiple medical professionals in a patient’s care. A therapist can refer a client to a psychiatrist for antidepressants, for example, or a student can keep in touch with both their primary care physician and therapist in one app. This inclusive model embodies the holism movement in mental health treatment, leading to faster recoveries and healthier outcomes.
