Telehealth is becoming an integral part of mental healthcare and suicide prevention. However, its precise impact on suicide outcomes remains uncertain. A recent study sought to explore this relationship, analyzing data from 16,236 veterans diagnosed with major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder. In this investigation, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers facilitated virtual mental health visits.
These virtual sessions accounted for 44.6% of all mental health visits. Notably, a 1% increase in virtual mental health visits was associated with a significant 2.5% reduction in suicide-related events among veterans. The study recommends that offering virtual mental healthcare as a complement to in-person treatment may effectively reduce suicide-related events in individuals struggling with mental health conditions. Should virtual mental…
