From Telepsychiatry to eMental Health–Experiences and Prospects in Europe

Abstract

What started with telepsychiatry (videoconference) has been turned into e-Mental Health (eMH) due to rapid development of IT technology, decreased prices and increased user experiences. Access to mental health care is one of the identified problems within EU mental health services. Increased migration into and within EU cause the increased demands for clinicians with selected skills. Telepsychiatry is the oldest and most common eMH application. The first international telepsychiatry collaboration established between Sweden and Denmark back in 2006 was a success. This model might be used as collaboration prototype while speaking about current refugee crisis in Europe and treatment of mentally ill migrants. The experiences from this pioneer international transcultural telepsychiatry service in combination with various eMH applications may be used as an inspiration for conducting of larger international eMH service capable to provide mental health care toward diversity of patient populations underserved on their mother tongue within EU.

eMH applications could improve quality of care and access to mental health care in rural, remote and under-served as well as in metropolitan areas all around EU.

Disclosure of interest

The author declares that he has no competing interest.