The Role of Online Doctors in Managing Mental Health

Over the past two years, we have all struggled with our mental health due to the pandemic. Whether it was due to the isolation that came with lockdowns, or newer variants cropping up as soon as things started to look a little better, we all started to feel a little hopeless and exhausted. In this time, online doctors in Australia came as a ray of hope to people who were too scared to visit a physical clinic but also didn’t want to suffer in silence.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has seen massive growth in users, with patients choosing the service for everything from video consultations with online GPs and getting medical certificates for sick leave, through to getting repeat prescriptions and specialist referrals. And people suffering from poor mental health during the pandemic are no exception.

By just booking in an appointment with an online healthcare service, you can quickly get in touch with an experienced professional without having to move an inch. E-mental health services can be effectively used for the management of mild to moderate depression and anxiety. There are several benefits of choosing virtual care as opposed to face-to-face care, some of which are discussed below:

Convenient and flexible
Stuck in isolation or quarantining after a positive result and can’t visit a doctor in person? Online doctors make it easier for people to access quality healthcare from anywhere in Australia and at any time. This is especially helpful for people living in rural or remote areas where access to doctors may not be readily available. You can also arrange for the appointment to be held after work hours so you don’t have to reschedule your work day around your appointment, or could easily fit it in your lunch break.

Cost-effective
Getting to a doctor’s clinic for an appointment requires you to take time off work, make babysitting arrangements if you’re a stay-at-home parents and drive or take the bus or train down to the clinic. All of these steps make you lose money, whereas with an online appointment, all you need is your smartphone and a quiet spot to conduct your appointment in. This could even be your parked car during your lunch break!

Avoid missing appointments
If you’re too scared to visit a doctor’s surgery for face-to-face treatment in the present situation, you’re not alone! Many people have reported missing important therapy sessions because they didn’t want to be exposed to the virus, which is why online healthcare offers such an excellent option. Not only are you getting the help you need and making sure you’re not missing any critical appointments, you’re also staying safe from the virus. You could even get a referral for a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist through online GPs.

More comfortable
Many people don’t feel comfortable opening up to their therapist in their offices because of their unfamiliar surroundings. Being in the comfort of your own home may help you bring down your defenses and be more truthful about how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing than you would feel in the therapist’s clinic. This would also help your therapist help provide better care.

Saves your and your practitioner’s time
Over 50% of all GP appointments are for concerns that could have easily been resolved over the phone. By choosing online appointments, not only are you keeping the waiting room clear for people who might need to see the doctor in person who the clinic may not otherwise be able to accommodate due to density limits, but are also allowing your GP to book in more patients for whom online appointments are not appropriate, thus reducing wait times.

Moreover, by not having to take time off work, drive down to the clinic and hanging around the waiting room to be seen by your doctor, you’re also saving yourself a significant amount of time that you could spend elsewhere.

Easy availability
Need to see a doctor for your mental health immediately? Most online healthcare providers have doctors on standby for same-day appointments and may be able to accommodate you faster than an in-person surgery. Whether it’s after hours or on a public holiday, you’ll always find someone to help you with your concerns.

There’s no doubt about it. Online healthcare services have changed the way we see and access healthcare during the pandemic. Not only does it allow us to stay safe while getting access to the help we need, it also takes the burden off the healthcare system. And when you can talk to a registered and qualified online GP for non-life-threatening concerns right from the comfort of your own home, without even having to move an inch or spend up to an hour in a waiting room, what could be better?