Conference Papers and Proceedings
#18 (2009)

To read or download, click on the link in the reference.

Publication #18 2009, November - Telemental Health with Remote and Rural First Nations: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Ways Forward.

Reference: Gibson, K., Kakepetum-Schultz, T., Coulson, H., O’Donnell, S. (2009). Telemental Health with Remote and Rural First Nations: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Ways Forward. National Aboriginal Health Organisation (NAHO) Conference. Ottawa, November 24-27.

Abstract: Remote and rural First Nation communities have limited mental health services compared to urban communities yet their needs are similar and sometimes greater. Community members living in remote, isolated communities requiring mental health services are usually faced with two choices: having no service or leaving their community to access services in larger centres. Certain First Nation communities offer a third choice: using telemental health delivered via videoconferencing to provide clinical mental health services for community members. Like all technology uses, telemental health services have advantages and disadvantages, both for the individual and the community.

Understanding mental health workers’ experiences of telemental health and its benefits and drawbacks for remote and rural First Nations people was the focus of our study. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with mental health professionals (clinicians and nonclinicians) working with First Nations communities. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a national online survey of mental health workers working with clients in rural and remote First Nations. This paper presents a thematic analysis of the data collected. Advantages include allowing community members to remain within their community for treatment and connecting First Nations trauma survivors to each other; disadvantages include increased difficulty building and maintaining clinical relationships via videoconference and ethical concerns of using the technology. These and other pros and cons of using telemental health are discussed. Certain ways forward that seem promising are proposed, including incorporating traditional practices and the seven teachings into telemental health initiatives. Finally, policy recommendations are offered.