Source: iHealthBeat News
Date: 18 Jan 2008
by Kate Ackerman , iHealthBeat Associate Editor
Patients with mental health disorders, as well as the mental health professionals who treat them, are increasingly tapping the Internet for resources and support as new online tools begin to better reflect their needs.
Use of the Internet by health care consumers is up as a whole. A Harris Interactive survey found that the percentage of online U.S. adults who searched for health care information online increased from 72% in 2005 to 84% in 2007. For mental health patients and professionals, the Internet has the potential to knock down barriers in receiving and providing care , according to experts.
Mental Health Patients
About 57.7 million U.S. residents, or one in four adults, experience a mental health disorder each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. However, geographical, financial and cultural barriers keep some mental health patients from receiving the care or support they need.
"These are devastating illnesses," Gloria Pope, director of advocacy and public policy at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, said, adding, "And the stigma is almost worse than the illness sometimes." The anonymity and accessibility of the Internet make online research attractive to people with mental health disorders, Pope said.
Last month, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance launched a Web site, called FacingUs.org, that offers tools and resources to help patients with depression and bipolar disorder "manage their illness and really to lead a productive life and to work towards recovery," Pope said.
Designed to mirror a clubhouse, the site includes a media room featuring entertainment, videocasts and an artwork gallery, as well as a kitchen where users can record and share wellness tips and advice. In January, the site added a feature that lets users share some of the things they create, such as a journal, with friends and family members.
Anonymity and confidentiality are important to those with mental illnesses. Pope said, "We house it for them and they know that it's going to be confidential and we're not going to share it with anyone else." She added that the site is available 24 hours a day , which could be especially helpful for those who might have trouble sleeping.
Pope said that site users range from those who are diagnosed and receiving treatment from a primary care physician, psychiatrist or therapist to those who may be "ill but ashamed and afraid to get help." Friends and family members of those with mental illnesses also use the site.
The Web site, however, is not intended to be used as an alternative to treatment. Pope said, "We would never encourage anyone to use our resources in the place of a medical expert -- because we are not doctors -- we are consumers who know what it's like to live with depression or bipolar disorder."
Pope added that the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance also does not encourage people to use online resources as self-diagnostic tools. "They are simply resources to help each person on their road to recovery," Pope said, adding, "We know that our tools and resources have encouraged people to get help."
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance does not have any numbers yet on the use of its new site, but Pope said qualitative feedback has been positive.
In addition to FacingUs.org , the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance recently launched online support groups . "People were really asking us to do that because even though we have 1,000 support groups, there are a lot of rural areas or cities that we haven't started a group in yet," Pope said.
She added that some people with mental illnesses, such as depression, might be more likely to attend an online support group than a traditional support group because they can remain anonymous . A facilitator ensures that conversations during the online support groups stay on track and that participants do not make any offensive comments or offer treatment recommendations.
Mental Health Professionals
While their needs are a bit different, mental health professionals, like patients, are also turning to the Internet for additional support. Mental health professionals often work in solo or small practices, making it difficult for them to consult with their peers.
As a therapist working in Southern California, Yvette Smith was able to consult with her peers readily. However, after moving to a rural Texas town and starting up a private practice, she began to feel isolated. The move prompted Smith to create Consultapeer.com, which allows licensed master's, doctoral or MD level mental health professionals to consult their peers in a secure, online environment.
"I can tell you that probably five years ago, I would have been against this idea because I specialize in relationships and counseling and [know] how important it is to have face to face conversations and interactions," Smith said, adding, "The reality is we're very limited and this opens it up."
While similar to the online physician community "Sermo", Consultapeer.com is only for mental health professionals , does not pay its users and does not sell the information, according to Smith.
"I actually found [Sermo] after I started this Web site and I thought, 'Wow, that is very similar,'" Smith said. She added, "I think their purpose is completely different than Consultapeer. Consultapeer is really just to allow professionals to have a place where they can safely consult cases."
Smith said that some mental health professionals might be reluctant to use an online tool such as Consultapeer.com because of concerns about confidentiality or who is providing them with advice. However, she said, "If you don't like the feedback or you don't think it [is] sound, you're not going to use it." Smith explained that using Consultapeer.com is similar to attending an in-person consultation group. "I don't know how many groups I've been to where it's like, 'Okay, thanks but maybe I'm not going to go that direction,'" she said.
The site, which launched in November, has about 25 active members, and Smith said she hopes to have 500 members by the end of 2008. She added that so far feedback on the site has "been very positive."
Monthly membership to Consultapeer.com is $24.95, and a discounted annual plan is also available, according to Smith. |
