Virtual Care and Mental Health: Dismantling Silos to Strengthen Care Delivery

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans experienced new or worsened mental health conditions. Concurrently, much care switched from in-person to virtual care, highlighting the value of virtual care but also some of the underlying challenges. Methods: This paper explores one such challenge, the separation of mental health care from physical health care, and a potential solution, collaborative care. It is a team-based approach linking psychiatrists to primary care providers that can help break down the silos of care created through reimbursement models. Results: In this context of collaborative care, high quality virtual care further bridges the divide between physical and mental health care. Asynchronous virtual care for mental and behavioral health is an innovation that can create efficiencies while still supporting collaborative care. Discussion: The barriers and weaknesses of using virtual care exclusively for mental and behavioral health are discussed, as well as examples of policy changes which can improve mental health care through collaborative virtual care.

Keywords

• behavioral health
• tele psychiatry
• virtual care