Virtualization of mental health care in the midst of chaos: Is telepsychiatry a silver lining?

The level of urgency for radical transformative change to our healthcare systems has raised due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a seminal, global event that has compelled societies to manage many challenges, including implementing various precautions, such as quarantine regulations, social distancing, travel restrictions, and individual isolation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the morbidity and mortality rate of many non-COVID-19 illnesses increased because healthcare systems have become saturated and overwhelmed. Healthcare workers are experiencing tremendous difficulties, including deaths among staff. Patients with needs for regular and emergent care may go untreated as a result of mitigation measures and individual reluctance to go outdoors (1). The need for physical distancing and other measures led to the rapid worldwide adoption of telehealth solutions, which can provide an opportunity for patients to access medical advice, healthcare, and treatment via remote communication technologies.

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