telepsychiatry

'One Degree of Separation': A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Canadian Mental Health Care User and Provider Experiences With Remote Care During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid shifts from in-person to remote mental health care, but little was known about how Canadians were experiencing this transition. This national online survey of 332 mental health care users and 107 mental health care providers through the CAN-BIND Program aimed to understand experiences of remote care during COVID-19, including what worked and what didn't. Overall, the majority of users (59-63%) and providers (63%) were satisfied with remote care. Users reported greatest satisfaction with the convenience of remote care, while providers were most satisfied with speed of provision of care; all groups were least satisfied with therapeutic rapport. Use of a video-based platform was significantly associated with remote care satisfaction. Most users (55%) and providers (87%) said they would likely use remote care again after COVID-19. Recommendations for improving future use of remote care are discussed.