by Hanna Nguyen – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected the entire world in the past two years. From transitioning to online schooling to a myriad of remote job opportunities, individuals of all ages were forced to adjust to the new way of life that the pandemic has caused. Previously, online options for therapy were constantly debated, with some wondering about the efficacy of virtual treatment due to the lack of personalization compared to standard talk therapy (Farrer et al., 2015). As we dive deeper into familiarizing ourselves with the online format for day-to-day living, however, there is an opportunity for individuals to attend to their mental health without the worry of travel, shame, excessive costs and, most recently, without the fear of catching a deadly virus. In the current and post-pandemic era, there is an opportunity to reach historically underserved populations and provide a door into mental health service for everyone.
During the midst of transitioning, mental health needs have been greatly disregarded compared to other changes that have been made. While the CDC recommends social distancing and wearing a mask to protect physical health, the available resources for the effects on psychological well-being and mental health are insufficient. The pandemic is causing more health problems such as stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms and global fear (Boden et al., 2021). In addition to the conditions of the pandemic, individuals with COVID-19 continue to have worse mental health and physical health post COVID-19 (Shanbehzadeh et al., 2021). These physical and psychological factors heighten risk for COVID-19 among individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions. Not only is COVID-19 exacerbating symptoms for those with pre-existing conditions, individuals without a history of mental illness prior to the pandemic are experiencing higher risk for mental illness due to social determinants (Boden et al., 2021).
Given the effects of COVID-19 on global mental health, virtual therapeutic services became an essential need. Despite initial concerns from mental health providers about transitioning to telehealth, attitudes have generally changed for the better with increased usage of online platforms for meetings, work, school, and daily social interactions. Further, previous concerns regarding the efficacy of online interventions are challenged by evidence indicating that a large percentage of psychologists endorse telehealth options, especially for readily treatable disorders (Perle et al., 2013). In regard to reducing COVID-19 related symptoms such as anxiety and depression, meta-analytic findings suggest that internet-based interventions are effective at reducing anxiety symptom severity and increasing remission rate, with a possibility of being just as effective as face-to-face interventions (Ye et al., 2014). Internet-based interventions appear to be effective in reducing symptomatology for both depression and anxiety, but also for areas related to PTSD, coping, and stress (Zhou et al., 2020; Saddichha et al., 2014). Domhardt et al. (2018) also revealed similar findings for child and adolescent care, since previous literature has primarily focused on the adult population for online interventions. Beyond these populations, the COVID-19 pandemic has also created an extraordinary amount of stress and anxiety for frontline workers. In addition to working long hours and being exposed daily to a deadly virus, the psychological distress and negative impact of the pandemic has left individuals in this occupation particularly stranded with limited mental health assistance. However, internet-based interventions provide anonymity and easy accessibility, making it easier and a more suitable option for frontline workers who will be able to obtain treatment at any time or place to practice taking care of their mental health. For example, Gega et al., (2004) showed evidence of a self-help computer-based CBT program that showed similar benefits to traditional methods.
As telehealth options grow in a world that is socially isolated and remote, other online methods can provide useful information and support for struggling individuals. As Bergman et al., (2021) pointed out, virtual recovery support meetings can possibly mitigate health consequences of COVID-19, especially for those with substance use disorder. Similarly, online support groups can provide a great deal of support from others in the community or others who are experiencing the same situations or thoughts. Having the ability to communicate 24/7 with other individuals allows for a sense of community and new level of comfort (White & Dorman, 2001). Moving forward, treatment options can vary in multiple forms as the online format can help professionals reach marginalized groups and allow for more individuals to not only cope with the current situation caused by the pandemic, but also carry therapy into their daily lives post-pandemic. __________________________________________________________________________
References
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Boden, M., Zimmerman, L., Azevedo, K. J., Ruzek, J. I., Gala, S., Magid, H. S. A., &McLean, C. P. (2021). Addressing the mental health impact of COVID-19 through population health. Clinical psychology review, 85, 102006.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS).