Depression is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Depression can be described as a mood disorder which is characterized by persistently low moods accompanied with a feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression is a health issue which is a persistent.
According to research, more than half of those sick with depression do not get treatment. This is usually because they lack access to counselors. A lot of people do not know where to turn to for treatment, while some cannot afford to travel to see counselors, and others lack the time to make the necessary trips to see experts. Thanks to Telemedicine, these issues can be addressed!
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide clinical health care from a distance. It is being effectively used to overcome distance barriers between patients and health experts. It is also being used to create means through which medical services can be accessed in very distant communities like Rural areas.
How then is Telemedicine used to cure depression?
Thanks to technology, Telemedicine is now a successful alternative method of treating patients who are seeking treatment for depression or other mental health conditions. Rather than paying visits to the office of a psychiatrist or counselor, the patient connects with them by using a dedicated video conferencing software on a computer or a mobile device.
This is done through secure and high definition connections, to create a certain experience and atmosphere very similar to a one-on-one encounter between a patient and a health expert. One of the best online counselling platforms which treats patients suffering from Depression is Better Help Online Counseling.
Telemedicine can be used for a wide range of mental health issues like cognitive behavioral therapy, relationship counseling, medication management, and after hospital care.
Is Telemedicine Treatment for Depression Effective?
According to a study done by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, using Telemedicine to treat depression is very effective. They followed 241 depressed elderly veterans, they subjected some of them to treatment by Telemedicine, while others received treatment via physical visits with health experts. At the end of one year, there was no significant difference between the symptom relief, or satisfaction between those who received treatment through Telemedicine and those who received in-person care.
The lead study author of the study; Dr Leonard Egede told Reuters that: “Based on results of this study and prior research, telemedicine is a highly relevant option to address the needs of rural patients or those living in remote locations, while providing patient satisfaction and quality of life similar to that provided by in-person treatment delivered at clinics.”
“In addition, this study was focused specifically on the elderly population, who have limitations in terms of mobility and transportation options that make them good candidates for depression therapy using telemedicine. Based on our analyses, there are no subpopulations based on age, race, or gender that showed worse outcomes and therefore would require in-person treatment.” – He continued.
Are you depressed? Do you need help? Visit Better Help and get treated!