Lack of Digital Tools Create Barrier to Mental Healthcare Access

Despite the increase in mental health conditions in the last several years, many struggle to obtain treatment, which reflects the growth and evolution of virtual healthcare, a new report from Amwell indicates.

Data from Mental Health America (MHA) shows that 50 million people in the US have mental health issues. Despite this high statistic, 55 percent of this population is not cared for.

This statistic raises curiosity surrounding the reasons for access struggles. In pursuit of gaining a better sense of mental healthcare practices, Amwell conducted a survey that involved 1,500 employed adults. Survey questions related to health plan experiences, coverage, expectations, barriers, and the relationship between their mental health and the health plan.

Based on the results, researchers concluded that understanding, practicality, and telehealth are all themes contributing to challenges.

Around 40 percent of respondents said that they experienced an increase in their need for mental health treatment since the beginning of the pandemic. But 85 percent of respondents do not use mental health benefits, largely because they do not fully understand how to use them. Despite changes in health plan benefits, many are confused about what services they can access.

The survey also indicated that 53 percent of respondents requested access to online tools. This comes alongside growing evidence that digital interventions are effective in treating mental health issues. Meanwhile, given the growth of digital tools in healthcare, Amwell noted that their application could be a safe way to enhance mental healthcare, particularly among younger patients.

Building off this, the survey also indicated that current offerings are not the most effective. Following a decline in in-person therapy visits after the start of the pandemic, 40 percent of respondents noted their wishes for health plans to provide access to online services that are accessible at any time.

Thus, the survey results led researchers to conclude that mental healthcare offerings must change. Due to the evolution of telehealth, patients, particularly younger generations, seek care digitally. For plans to remain applicable, integration of virtual services is necessary, as are those that are affordable and personalized.

Various efforts have acknowledged changes in healthcare needs and emerging modes of care delivery.

In January, Point32Health began working with Valera Health to increase access to virtual behavioral healthcare in Massachusetts.

This partnership allowed members of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, subsets of Point32Health, to access Valera Health’s virtual behavioral healthcare resources. This effort resulted from the spike in behavioral health needs due to the pandemic, as well as increases in telehealth demand.

In February, the University of Louisville added telehealth to its behavioral health offerings. Known as PeaceNow, the program through which the organization provides these resources allows physicians, school counselors, and social workers to use telehealth to refer patients for assessments.