Using Telehealth to Meet Mental Health Needs During the COVID-19 Crisis

Telemental health services should continue post-pandemic as a way to expand mental and behavioral health care

The expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has been lightning fast, particularly compared to its slow trajectory before the crisis. The Lancet first discussed how phone-based doctor appointments could reduce the need for in-person visits in 1879. Science and Invention foresaw video-based telehealth encounters in 1925. However, prior to COVID-19, less than 10 percent of the U.S. population used telehealth for a clinical encounter, and only 18 percent of physicians provided such services.

The slow rate of adoption is not...