Providing telehealth is often a means to increase the accessibility to and availability of clinical mental healthcare services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has been globally implemented into healthcare systems. Today, almost 390 million individuals have at least one mental illness. There are many challenges to seeking clinical mental healthcare, including availability and accessibility, anonymity, finances and insurance, stigma, and travel and transportation. Due to these barriers, many individuals have untreated mental health conditions, which can burden healthcare systems. By utilizing innovative delivery models such as telehealth technologies, the disparities experienced by individuals when attempting to seek clinical mental healthcare services can decrease.
TopMental Health A Global Issue
Research has suggested that mental health is a global issue (Acharya et al., 2017; Handley et al., 2014b; Monteiro et al., 2014; Robinson et al., 2012; Sinclair et al., 2013; Zubatsky et al., 2018), significantly impacting one in 10 individuals globally and accounting for 30% of the global non-fatal disease burden (Mnookin, 2016). Over the last decade, global mental health has attracted the attention of health policymakers and researchers. Global health has been defined as an area of study, research, and practice that emphasizes improving health and achieving evenhandedness in health for individuals worldwide (Patel, 2014; Koplan et al., 2009). Global health has three key aspects, including the priorities are determined by the burden of disease, striving for fairness in the delivery of health between populations, and a global scope concerning knowledge and actions to benefit individuals globally (Patel, 2014). Due to the growing burden of global mental health, actions to promote global health are necessary. An estimated 5% of the worldwide population is impacted by mental health disorders, including psychosis, intellectual disabilities, dementia, drug or alcohol dependence, and severe depression (Patel, 2014). Five percent of the global population translates to an average of almost 390 million individuals impacted globally (Patel, 2014; U.S. Census Bureau et al., 2021).
The Impact of Mental Health Issues
Over the last decade, there has been a resilient international undertaking to address clinical mental healthcare needs and decrease disparities worldwide, specifically for low socioeconomic populations (Cooper, 2016; Patel & Prince, 2010; Rathod et al., 2017). Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, are some of the most common and incapacitating health conditions internationally. The crucial issue, from an international viewpoint, is not only the enormous burden and growing numbers of individuals impacted by mental disorders, but the fact that many of these persons are not receiving the services we know can improve their lives (Patel, 2014; World Health Organization, 2011; Zubatsky et al., 2018). The limited access to clinical mental health services globally discourages individuals from seeking help for their mental illness. Global mental health is defined as promoting healthy quality of life for individuals with mental disorders worldwide, including those who live in lower socioeconomic countries who only have access to a fraction of mental health resources (Patel, 2014). Today, global mental health has a wide range of stakeholders, including consumers, civil society groups, policymakers, donors, and development agencies. Making a difference in mental health trenches requires a change in delivery methods to improve global mental health practice. Clinical mental health providers are responsible for reducing the disparities of mental healthcare services to individuals worldwide.