This Mental Health Awareness Month, Congress should unlock telehealth’s potential

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in 2024, there is a mental health crisis in this country. While the pandemic is over, many Americans are still grappling with prolonged and increasing mental and emotional strain and facing increased risks of mental health disorders. As of 2021 suicide deaths are rising, with the largest increases seen among minority populations. Children and adolescents are especially struggling. In total, 13.8% of Asian adolescents and 22.2% of Hispanic adolescents experienced a major depressive episode during 2021.

In February of 2023, over 30 percent of U.S. adults reported symptoms consistent with depression or anxiety. Of adults suffering from these afflictions, more than 20% reported needing mental health services, but not receiving them. We all recall the pandemic-era isolation. In many cases, that isolation was even greater for Americans with language barriers. Just as FaceTime and Zoom helped Americans address their need for social interaction, telehealth expanded to help address their need for behavioral health services like virtual counseling. While social distancing and quarantines have ended, the mental health crisis persists. Telehealth must continue to be a part of our toolkit to address this problem.

Today, approximately 60% of psychiatric services are provided via telehealth. Telehealth has remarkable potential to increase access to health services and improve patient outcomes. While patients seeking behavioral health care previously had to take the time to get to a clinic and see a provider in person, now you can get therapy from the comfort of your couch, home office, or a park bench. However, barriers to this revolutionary technology remain for too many Americans.

Originally Published in The Orange County Register