A trend over the past few years toward the growing popularity of online mental health services, smartphone applications (apps), and support groups may revolutionize the mental health care system worldwide. Recent research has found that online modalities are as effective as face-to-face forms of mental health therapy.1 This finding has prompted increased academic and popular interest in various types of online therapies and has solidified the idea that online mental health support is both feasible and helpful.1
A trend over the past few years toward the growing popularity of online mental health services, smartphone applications (apps), and support groups may revolutionize the mental health care system worldwide.
Technology has the potential to revolutionize the mental health care system and to eliminate barriers to access by expanding availability to populations that have traditionally been difficult to reach.
Although current studies on online mental health care have yielded promising results, they have also highlighted potential challenges and shortcomings.