MPR’s Ground Level ran a nice story this week on remote mental health services. As the article points out, mental health support is particularly ripe for remote applications since it doesn’t’ require a physical examination. They also point out that sometimes there is a stigma attached to parking your car outside a therapists office so whether you are able to connect from home or through computers at the local clinic there are advantages to a little anonymity too.
Often, when a patient sits before that camera for a session, the doctor they’re talking to is Jane Hovland, a nurse, licensed psychologist, and associate professor at the U of M Duluth. Rural people, says Hovland, who was raised in northern Minnesota, “are such a self reliant bunch.” When it comes to mental health, “We expect people to figure it out on their own.”
But the fact is, some can’t. The most common diagnosis Hovland makes is of major depression, followed by anxiety disorders.
Hovland notes that Minnesota has more psychologists than the national average. But they tend to practice in the city. “There are 13 counties without a single licensed psychologist,” she says. “It’s a matter of distribution.” That’s why doctors with the U’s telemental health program have seen 2,300 patients over the past five years.