Telemental health offers a platform to expand access to care for all patients including those with serious mental illness. In 2017, the most recent data published in 2019 [1] suggests that nearly 30% of all United States mental health facilities are offering some version of telemental health. This number is nearly doubled from 2010 when it was 15%. Suicide prevention is the third most utilized clinical intervention offered via telemental health according to this paper (therapy and medication services are #1 and #2) – further suggesting that use in patients with serious mental illness is practical. The uptake of telemental health does vary from state to state however, and figure 2B allows you to check your own state.
REFERENCE
Spivak S, Spivak A, Cullen B, Meuchel J, Johnston D, Chernow R, Green C, Mojtabai R. Telepsychiatry Use in U.S. Mental Health Facilities, 2010–2017. Psychiatric Services, 71(2):121-127, February 2020.