Online mental health counselling interventions

Key take-home messages

• There are no universal best practice recommendations for the provision of online counselling.
• Across various platforms, modalities, and populations, study results are varied and often inconclusive with regard to the effectiveness of online counselling.
• Many technologies exist for providing online counselling, such as websites, videoconferencing services, mobile devices, email, chat, and virtual reality.
• The evidence suggests that videoconferencing is as effective as face-to-face counselling, with specific guidelines published for its provision.
• There is evidence supporting the provision of online counselling among elderly and rural populations, and inconsistent evidence among youth.
• Important ethical concerns that are necessary to consider when offering online counselling include confidentiality, quality assurance, suitability, electronic access, and cultural competence.

• Population(s)
  • Children or Youth (less than 18 years old)
  • Older adults (>50 years)
  • General HIV+ population
  • General HIV- population
• Mental Health
  • Depression
  • Psychiatric disorders
• Health Systems
  • Delivery arrangements