Implementation lessons from the transition to telehealth during COVID-19: a survey of clinicians and young people from youth mental health services

Whilst telehealth may overcome some traditional barriers to care, successful implementation into service settings is scarce, particularly within youth mental health care. This study aimed to leverage the rapid implementation of telehealth due to COVID-19 to understand the perspectives of young people and clinicians on how telehealth impacts service delivery, service quality, and to develop pathways for future uses. Youth mental health service users (aged 12-25) and clinicians took part in an online survey exploring service provision, use, and quality following the adoption of telehealth. Service use data from the period were also examined. Ninety-two clinicians and 308 young people responded to the survey. Service use was reduced compared to the same period in 2019, however, attendance rates were higher. Across eight domains of service quality, the majority of young people reported that telehealth positively impacted service quality, and were significantly more likely to rate telehealth as having a positive impact on service quality than clinicians. There was high interest in continuing to use telehealth as part of care beyond the pandemic, supporting its permanent role in youth mental health care for a segment of service users. Future work should explore how best to support its long-term implementation.

Automated summary

The study reveals that while telehealth has seen some success in the field of youth mental health care, successful implementations are scarce. Most young people believe that telehealth has a positive impact on service quality, while clinicians are less likely to hold this view. Furthermore, there is a high level of interest in integrating telehealth as a permanent part of care for youth mental health beyond the pandemic.