The Future Cannot Come Soon Enough: How Federal Regulation of Telepsychiatry Is Necessary to Create Greater Access to Mental Health Services During a Time When Psychiatrists Are in Short Supply
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: According to a 2016 study prepared for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS"), 44.7 million adults in the U.S. experienced some type of mental illness in the previous year.1 Of those 44.7 million people, 10.4 million people experienced a mental illness in the previous year that was so serious that it interfered with one or more major life activities.2 Examples of serious mental illness include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.3 Mental illness is treatable, and there are a variety of treatments available, including psychotherapy and medication.4 While there are many types of mental health professionals, 5 the focus of this Article is on psychiatrists.Psychiatrists, unlike other types of mental healthcare professionals, are physicians and, therefore, are able to prescribe medications to treat their patients' mental illnesses.6 Despite mental illness being treatable, it is believed that only half of the people with mental illness actually receive treatment.7 While there are several barriers to treatment, 8 one significant barrier to treatment is limited access to care.9 The U.S. is currently experiencing a severe shortage of mental health professionals.10 Not only are there not enough mental health professionals practicing in the U.S., but the ones that are practicing are not 1 SUBSTANCE ABUSE & MENTAL HEALTH SERVS.ADMIN.
Author: Lisa V. Parciak
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3027783928