The Rise Of Telemental Health

Interest in telemental health has been growing in our field for a few years now, with utilization driven by a combination of factors—the high costs of mental health services, a shortage of mental health professionals in rural areas, and an increasing body of evidence that suggests that telemental health can be an effective treatment model.

Data from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) shows that about 44% of the U.S. population resides in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MH-HPSAs) — defined broadly as an area with fewer than one psychiatrist per 30,000 population (see 44 . . .