Exploring the Experience and Efficacy of Online Interventions for Mental Health: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Remote care for a range of mental health needs is now increasingly offered using online support.  Understanding the benefits and challenges of receiving remote mental healthcare, from the perspectives of individuals accessing support, is important for considering the development of future interventions. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants who were receiving two or more online mental health support interventions. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and gain meaningful interpretations of these experiences. These data revealed advantages and challenges regarding receiving online support for disorders such as anxiety and depression. Three key themes (‘accessibility of treatment’; ‘therapeutic process’; ‘options and choices’) were identified, which related to the accessibility of online support, the therapeutic process with regards to the role of the therapist and expectations of the intervention recipient, and the individual options and choices. These results suggest that the increased availability of psychological interventions (through telephone and videoconferencing platforms), and establishing remote therapeutic relationships, contributes to the effective delivery of these services. In this study, participants considered online support to be largely advantageous, however, many participants had the view that online support should remain supplementary or act as a gateway to face-to-face support. Future mental health services could be improved by increasing options and the length of support where possible, as a ‘hybrid’ approach might allow for more flexibility and better meet individual needs.