Dec 01
- December, 01 2014
- Dr. Sam Ozersky, MD
Speaking at a conference in November 2014, Norman Lamb, the Minister of Health in the UK said the current system of in-person treatment must be augmented to include web-based treatment, including computerized web-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as part of a new government strategy for how mental illnesses are dealt with by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Allowing people to bypass traditional GP referrals to get help via the internet or over the phone would encourage hundreds of thousands of patients to seek treatment. He encouraged the use of online treatment including cognitive behavioural therapy, apps, counselling and peer support networks.
Minister Lamb’s comments highlight the importance of meeting young people where they are – on the web and on mobile devices. He also stated that many apps that come up on a Google search may not be appropriate for those experiencing severe problems and advocated the importance of NHS vetting the apps to ensure they are in fact helpful.
The process of knowledge translation, i.e. implementing research evidence into practice, can be a slow one, not least in mental health care. With FeelingBetterNow®, we have implemented several of these recommendations, including web-based CBT and physician-reviewed mobile apps within the context of a 24/7 web-based system that reaches just over a million Canadians today!
Full Article Link: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/mental-health/article4277346.ece