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Using telehealth to assess depression and suicide ideation and provide mental health interventions to groups of chronically ill adolescents and young adults
Author(s) -
Wright Shawna,
Thompson Noreen,
Yadrich Donna,
Bruce Amanda,
Bonar Jaime R. M.,
Spaulding Ryan,
Smith Carol E.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.22089
Subject(s) - telehealth , suicidal ideation , psychological intervention , mental health , medicine , depression (economics) , psychiatry , suicide prevention , poison control , clinical psychology , health care , psychology , telemedicine , medical emergency , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth
Telehealth distance health care is a significant resource for young, chronically ill patient populations given their numerous medical complexities and their concomitant depression and/or suicide ideation experiences. This manuscript shares the telehealth methods used to prepare for a larger study of interventions for increasing adolescents' and young adults' chronic care resiliency and skills for preventing depression. The young patients in this study were prescribed lifelong home parenteral nutrition infusions, treatment for those with short gut bowel diseases. The training methods for our mental health nurse and psychologist to conduct depression and suicide ideation assessments from a distance are presented. The study implementation methods of group facilitated interventions and discussion are reviewed. The group discussions were conducted via audiovisual telehealth devices over encrypted firewall‐protected connections with patients in their own homes and professionals in an office. The results of assessments of the 40 participants, 25% ( n = 10) with depressive symptoms or suicide ideation, are described. Following participants' assessments, their subsequent depression measures were all in the normal range, without any suicide ideation, across the year of the study. Patient evaluation ratings were high in the areas of being able to connect with other young patients in similar situations, using the audiovisual equipment, and learning new useful information from the interventions. The methods developed for the study ensured that the safety and well‐being of participants were supported through telehealth.