The COVID-19 pandemic affected the demand and provision of mental health services. Mental health conditions have increased worldwide and to be able to continue services and safeguard the health and well-being of mental health service users, service providers responded to the pandemic with the rapid and large-scale innovation and adoption of remote services.
The transition to remote services may have empowered mental health service users, promoted their self-efficacy, and enabled them to engage in their services more independently of time and place. Nonetheless, this change demands a high level of adaptability on service users and providers. Concerns are expressed about the use of digital technologies as service users must work with digital means and are expected to play a more competent and active role in caring for their health.
The study provided an in-depth analysis on the adoption of remote mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic from the service users perspective. The findings can contribute to the design of new remote services or strengthening already existing ones. The aim of this study was to identify and compare the promoters and challenges of the adoption of remote mental health services experienced by service users in Finland and the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Face-to-face contact is often indispensable when adopting mental health services
While remote services are accessible, support our well-being and mental health and protect us against the coronavirus, they are not ideal. Key findings from the study reveal that face-to-face contact is often indispensable when adopting mental health services. The lack of physical contact between the service user and the professional caused challenges related to the feeling of being understood, supported, safe, connected and expressing oneself. Other problems were related to technological issues, suitability, and usability of services. Interestingly, the study suggests that experiences with remote services can differ significantly between countries, even though both countries studied can be considered advanced in their level of digitalization.
These insights call for further research into addressing the challenges and development needs which emerged from this study. More research is needed on blended approaches and explore how to gain the advantages from both face-to-face and remote methods, the cost-effectiveness of remote services and identify which services suit remote forms and for whom, taking the specifc needs of service users into account.
More information
Coomans, S.K., Virtanen, L., Kaihlanen, AM. et al. Remote mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland and the Netherlands: a qualitative study. Discov Ment Health 4, 30 (2024)