Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resource Consideration

Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resource Consideration
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Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resource Consideration
I met with Mr. Jim Pebbles again and interviewed him on the mental health care problems and support related to technology, care coordination, and community resources. I spent 2 hours discussing these aspects of the problem with him. I identified valuable insights on how technology, coordination of care, and availability of community resources impact mental health care. Mr. Pebbles stated that no devices were used in his treatment and that therapy was the primary mode of treatment for his mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts. He also acknowledged that technology had greatly assisted him in his struggles with depression and suicidal ideations. At the insistence of his therapist, Mr. Pebbles had downloaded a smartphone app on his smartphone, which incorporated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a proven technique against depression and suicidal ideation. The app helped him self-manage his mental struggles and contain recurring suicidal thoughts. He was happy that the app gave him the answers to most of his questions without booking an appointment with his therapist.
Mr. Pebbles further reported that the app had helped him stay connected outside of therapy sessions to the work he was doing with his therapist in managing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. However, he did not view it as a substitute for therapy or peer support. The interview revealed that Mr. Pebbles communicated regularly with his clinician using Skype and text messaging, where the latter would provide emotional support whenever his symptoms worsened. He reported that the two communication mediums allowed his clinician to regularly assess his mental health progress and monitor his behaviors, feelings, and thoughts. Therefore, he was grateful that the two communication-related technologies allowed him to contact his therapist and even connect with distant relatives at the comfort of his home. The interview, therefore, revealed telehealth to be a helpful resource in reaching hard-to-reach groups, particularly those who seek privacy and confidentiality when dealing with their mental health issues. It is also an innovative choice for mental health treatment and an inexpensive way of monitoring patient progress and providing emotional support. Another way technology-aided Mr. Pebbles's mental health recovery was through websites about mental health that extensively addressed the primary issues about depression and suicidal ideation.
The patient received peer support from the community mental health center: the community-based suicide prevention program helped support his depression and suicidal ideation struggles. Mr. Pebbles reported that the peer support sessions involved sharing everyday life experiences, situations, values, and circumstances based on respect, mutual agreement, and respect. He was delighted that this mutual sharing of experiences and joint responsibility of healing had greatly improved his temperament and reduced the recurrence of suicidal ideation. Unfortunately, the respondent complained that public transport in his area was poor and the only way to attend the peer support programs was by driving himself. He also pointed out that it usually took him more than half a day to reach the community health center. However, the center had a chaplain who would spend time with people struggling with suicide ideation and histories of suicide attempts. Although Mr. Pebbles did not consider himself religious, he felt better whenever he talked with the priest: he observed that the severity of his depression, which was often accompanied by suicidal thoughts, had markedly reduced since his talk sessions with the chaplain started.
Besides the interview with Mr. Pebbles, I examined the problem of technology, care coordination, and community resource consideration by conducting a systemic review of evidence-based practice documents and websites addressing the same. One of my first findings related to using mental health websites as a critical resource in raising public awareness and tackling depression and suicidal thoughts among individuals. The literature review showed that most people, particularly those hesitant to seek mental healthcare, resort to websites as the first resource. Unfortunately, not all websites contain evidence-based data, and there is a need for people to know how to evaluate evidence when seeking mental health information online (Reavley & Jorm, 2011). The literature reviews revealed that various technological innovations revolutionized mental health treatment and support. For instance, various studies showed that teleconferencing services had the same efficacy as in-person services in treating anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression. Online psychological counseling and self-help were beneficial for those patients who were embarrassed about seeking mental health care services (Strand et al., 2020). However, the literature reviews also revealed that uptake of telehealth among minority groups is significantly lower than other ethnic groups owing to inequities in digital literacy and technology access.
Longer-term strategies to increase teleconferencing services among underserved communities must include increasing access to affordable, high-speed Internet, increasing public awareness of the availability of the services, and providing digital training for patients in need of the services. Another technology innovation that has changed how mental health services are provided is mental health smartphone applications. The literature review revealed that mental health applications effectively reduced depression and anxiety symptoms and that most Americans have a smartphone, including low-income minority groups and seniors. Unfortunately, many mental health apps in app stores are not founded on clinical research. Most people who download the same demonstrate low rates of sustained use over prolonged periods (Strand et al., 2020). The review recommended that mental health providers recommend evidence-based apps and even assimilate app content into their interventions to improve user engagement.
Another technology innovation identified was texting applications: the review indicated that text messaging platforms could be leveraged to help people with behavioral health issues cope with their symptoms. Text messaging is a suitable intervention measure for underserved groups and low digital literacy. Studies indicated t...