6.5 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF HEALTH
By Melissa Gasser, PhD candidate, University of Washington
Equity in eHealth: amplifying youth voices in mental health care The rapid uptake of eHealth shines a light on
W hile already growing prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the prevalence of eHealth treatment options (digital health interventions delivered via phone calls, video-conferencing, websites, mobile applications and other technology-based services) has greatly accelerated across healthcare specialisations. The rapid uptake of eHealth illuminates its vast potential to address equity concerns while increasing overall access to mental health care globally. Careful governance and a broad integration of stakeholder involvement at every stage of development and testing are needed, however. Involving youth stakeholders in developing and disseminating eHealth to ensure equity and privacy are prioritised is imperative, not only for youth-focused interventions, but also for mental health care in general.
increases accessibility for those in rural areas and those without access to transportation. eHealth options can also provide a larger pool of possible providers, depending on local provider licensing regulations. Individuals thus benefit from easier scheduling, reduced waitlists and access to providers in a much larger geographic area than they would be restricted to with in-person health care. This further aids those looking for providers who offer less common specialised treatments, are covered by their health insurer or charge lower session fees. Beyond provider-dependent options such as telehealth, stand-alone eHealth interventions, such as some mobile- and web-based interventions, allow individuals to access them at any time and place as needed. This eliminates scheduling concerns, and further broadens the number of individuals able to access mental health care
its immense potential to close equity gaps and boost access to mental health care globally – and involving young people in developing and disseminating eHealth can bring broad benefits ACCESSING CARE Many individuals in need of mental health care face practical challenges in accessing care, challenges that eHealth treatments can help to reduce or eliminate. The remote nature of eHealth options lessens the costs and time spent on transportation, and
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Health: A Political Choice – From Fragmentation to Integration
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