2 Amazing Studies That Prove The Effectiveness of Telehealth Therapy

Did you know? The first Australian mental health facility opened its doors in 1811 and quickly crowded convicts, criminals, and average, everyday people suffering from mental illness all together under one roof.

Thankfully, Australia recognized this problem and began to fix it. Therapy has come a long way, and while face-to-face counselling has many benefits, telehealth therapy is here to stay.

So, do you need counselling help online? Are you curious about whether or not online therapy is effective?

If you’ve been struggling with your mental health, rest assured you are far from alone. There are many barriers preventing people from accessing traditional forms of in-person counselling.

Read on to discover just how effective online therapy in Australia really is, so you can be confident when taking the first step to healing.

What Is Telehealth Therapy?

Telehealth therapy, otherwise called online therapy - is a form of counselling in which a client is able to meet with their therapist through digital means.

When you think of therapy, you may envision the classic image of a client laying on a couch while the therapist sits nearby, scribbling word for word on his notepad.

Online therapy is quite different. Telehealth therapy can be based on video calls, text messaging or chat, or a combination of the two.

A client can access counselling services with any form of digital device, such as a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or iPad.

Is Telehealth Therapy Effective?

No matter if you suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD or something else - telehealth therapy has been researched and concluded to provide equal success rates for those battling mental illness.

Not only is telehealth proven to successfully manage mental health problems, but the rise of online therapy in Australia has also begun to decrease the gaping hole in our world's need for access to psychological services. With online therapy providing safe, secure, accessible, and affordable treatment, many barriers are broken down that once prevented minorities from receiving mental health care.

In case you are still on the fence about trying telehealth therapy, let’s discuss a few studies that were conducted to help you see how incredibly effective it really is.

Online Therapy Was Extremely Effective During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus was no doubt, one of the most influential events to not only change Australia but the entire world.

Online therapy existed before covid-19, however, with lockdowns and the increase in stress, depression, and anxiety, it’s no surprise millions of people turned to telehealth platforms.

Alison Mahoney, Ian Li, Hila Haskelberg, Michael Millard, and Jill Newby become curious about just how effective online therapy was during the pandemic.

Taking data information from 6,132 Australians that had participated in online mental health services during the pandemic gave them a clearer view of the bigger picture.

Based on the client's surveys pre and post-treatment, researchers found that online therapy during coronavirus was linked to decreased rates of anxiety and depression, as well as other psychological illnesses.

This study proves that even in the most difficult and unexpected circumstances, online therapy can provide relief for those struggling with their mental health.

Online Therapy Is Beneficial For Older Generations:

This next study may surprise you. Many of us know an older adult that refuses to use or even learn new technology. However, telehealth therapy has been researched and proven to benefit even the oldest generations.

A research study conducted by Louise Mewton, Perminder S. Sachdev, and Gavin Andrews aimed to address online therapy effectiveness in Australian adults over the age of 60.

2,413 individuals were broken into age groups and asked to complete an automated lesson plan.

Using six online lessons targeted toward depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and social phobia, all provided an understanding of how age may play a role in reduced rates of psychological distress.

While younger populations did show a reduction in symptoms of their specific mental illness, older generations followed suit, as they completed the online lessons more thoroughly than their younger counterparts.

This study found that online therapy is an acceptable therapy alternative for older Australians.

So, Why Is Online Therapy So Effective?

Scheduling, transportation, and finances are all major roadblocks that can keep someone from starting therapy. Online telehealth services work past all three of these barriers.

Online therapy allows you to engage in your counselling sessions quite literally from wherever you are. This is fantastic news for parents of young children, as the need for a babysitter is diminished. This is also beneficial for working adults, as finding time away from work can pose a challenge itself. Find out more on the empowering benefits of online therapy today.

Financially, there are many mental health platforms that provide free or low-cost online therapy in Australia, allowing those with a tight budget the ability to seek care.

Online therapy is the way of the future, there’s no doubt about that. Getting help for your own mental health needs doesn’t have to be difficult, or expensive. So, if you need counselling help online, now is the time.