Disparities in Telemental Healthcare Access and Utilization

A study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that over half of mental health appointments are now conducted remotely, primarily through videoconferencing, based on data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The volume of telemedicine visits, especially for mental health care, significantly increased during the pandemic and has remained high, with a 2,300 percent increase in video-based care compared to pre-pandemic levels. This shift is attributed to the ease of adapting mental health services to virtual platforms, while in-person evaluations are often necessary for primary care and medical specialists.