The Center for Connected Health Policy defines telehealth as “Telehealth is a collection of means or methods for enhancing health care, public health and health education delivery and support using telecommunications technologies.” Given the current public health emergency, telehealth has become an essential way to provide mental health services.
Definitions and Evidence-Base:
Here we highlight MHTTC products and resources related to telehealth, as well as a compilation of telehealth resources from other reputable organizations.
Administrators Consultation Office Hours: Best Practices for Telehealth | Southeast MHTTC
Expert consultants devoted the first segment of this hour-long session to discussing best practices in telehealth and then addressed questions submitted by registrants.
Best Practice Spotlight: The Brookline Center’s Approach to Transitioning to Telehealth during the Pandemic | New England MHTTC
Within one week of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s stay-at-home order, The Brookline Center (Brookline, MA) had finalized their telehealth policies and procedures, trained all their staff, and launched their telehealth services with all 80 staff clinicians. Now, six weeks later, they conduct 1,000 remote client visits weekly and have begun to conduct online group sessions as well.
CBT Telehealth Adaptations for Providers of Mental Health Care for Latino Populations | National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC
Due to the need for many mental health providers to transition to online service delivery as a result of COVID-19, this webinar provided general guidance on the use of telehealth services and recommendations for adapting common Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools (e.g., repeating assessment, homework tracking, etc.). Special linguistic and cultural considerations for providers of Latino clients were presented as well.
Clinical Innovations in Telehealth | MHTTC Network
Clinical Innovations in Telehealth Learning Series is a weekly online series targeting high-priority clinical issues for providers using telehealth. Experts in clinical care and telehealth devoted the first segment of each hour-long session to a specific topic, then addressed questions submitted by registrants.
Counseling Adolescents through Telehealth | Mid-America MHTTC
Northeast South Dakota Area Health Education Center in collaboration with Northeastern Mental Health Center developed a telehealth training webinar series that works to enhance the experience of patients and providers’ understanding of telemedicine, especially in the current COVID-19 environment. The webinars in the series focus on areas of telehealth specific to mental health professionals transitioning to virtual appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar, presented by Mid-America MHTTC faculty trainer Holly Roberts, Ph.D., will introduce best practices in counseling adolescents using telehealth.
Recording coming soon!
Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness in Telehealth | South Southwest MHTTC
This brief identifies issues to consider when conducting mental health services and supports through telehealth with culturally diverse communities and provides strategies to ensure that the national Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards continue to drive efforts towards culturally competent care. Now available in Spanish!
Engaging with Clients Over the Telephone and Using Text | Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC
This resource provides information on tips and methods on how to engage clients during the pandemic and as well with those who live in remote, rural, and otherwise difficult to access areas. Please note that it is best to talk with your agency's administration to determine any potential issues or concerns with providing remote services, including, but not limited to, HIPAA compliance, reimbursement, and authorizations.
EPLC | Online Discussion Series 2 - Telehealth 101 & A Provider’s Perspective on TeleMental Health | New England MHTTC
Recently, the New England MHTTC held an online discussion session led by Reid Plimpton, MPH, and Terry Rabinowitz, MD, DDS. In this session, they discussed telehealth from a provider's perspective.
EPLC: Supporting Young People at Risk for Psychosis through Telehealth | New England MHTTC
This CEDAR Clinic clinical brief describes telehealth and discusses its benefits in the treatment of young people at risk for psychosis. It also discusses the benefits of using telehealth vs. traditional therapy.
In's and Out's of Facilitating Virtual Support Groups | Great Lakes MHTTC
In this time of changing methods to deliver services, everyone is looking to make sure they have the skills and knowledge to provide clients with the best possible experience. This webinar provided an overview on how to facilitate a virtual support group with practical advice and experiences from two current facilitators.
Indian Health Care Providers Series | Northwest MHTTC
Let's Look For The Silver Lining: Using Evidence Based Practices For Remote Telehealth | Great Lakes MHTTC
Looking for the silver lining: Resolving our ambivalence about using MI in telehealth? This webinar discussed the differences between using MI face-to-face or via telehealth, discussed solutions to common barriers, and prepares you to use/improve your use of MI in the resolution of ambivalence via telehealth.
Making a Good Connection: Engaging Students and Families in School Tele-Mental Health | Global MHTTC
Making a Good Connection: Engaging Students and Families in School Tele-Mental Health is a three-part webinar series geared toward providers who are making the transition from in-person to telehealth services. Session content focused on practical strategies and equity concerns related to engaging children, adolescents and families using distance technology. All materials include the webinar recording, slide deck, and an FAQ document.
Mental Health Challenges, Racial Inequality, Burnout, & Telepsychiatry during COVID-19: An Overview | Southeast MHTTC
This infographic highlights the current stressors that may impact mental health patients and providers during this time as well as provides additional resources for addressing these challenges.
Native Youth Telehealth Initiative | National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC
This is a recording of the Native Youth Telehealth Initiative Webinar, which took place on May 14, 2020. The recording begins at slide 12 of the presentation. Dr. George Baston, MHRD, Ed.D CTE, and Natasha Peterson, BS, covered how to implement telehealth using the “Let’s Talk Interactive” platform and opportunities to collaborate with the National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC.
Providing Mental Health Telehealth Services in Farming and Rural Communities | Great Lakes MHTTC and Mountain Plains MHTTC
This webinar addressed how the COVID-19 pandemic affects access to care, specifically mental health services. Presenters discussed how access to care is critical for farming and rural and frontier communities and highlighted the unique barriers these communities face.
Providing Telehealth Services and Instruction to Students and Clients with a Focus on those with Developmental Disabilities and on the Autism Spectrum | Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC
The focus of this webinar was to provide the support and information that teachers, supervisors, BCBAS, therapists and other professionals supporting youth during COVID 19 have been seeking. Topics discussed in this webinar include challenges for students and clients, strategies for outreaching and educating students through virtual classrooms, and how to support individuals with developmental disabilities and autism during the pandemic.
Region IV Telemental Health Landscape in Response to COVID-19 | Southeast MHTTC
This document presents a general landscape of state mental health licensing board responses to the COVID-19 public health emergency related to telemental health services and payment. It is important to note that many of these provisions are time-sensitive, and so may not remain in effect beyond the listed dates (or the date when states declare the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency).
Rising Telehealth Behavioral Health Practices-Centering the Needs of Historically Marginalized Youth in California | Pacific Southwest MHTTC
COVID-19 has forced us into conditions that challenge best practices for serving the mental health needs of youth we marginalize. Through these two sessions, we supported California school mental health advocates, educators, administrators, and other school systems leaders in managing stress and trauma in their communities.
Suicide Prevention in Rural Primary Care: Intervention, Follow-up, and Telehealth Tips | Mountain Plains MHTTC
This 90 minute training is part two in a two-part series on suicide prevention in rural primary care offices. This session covers intervention including medication, safety planning, documentation, and follow-up for patients expressing suicidal ideation as well as tips for helping patients via telehealth.
Supporting WA State Behavioral Health Providers to Optimize Telehealth in Response to COVID-19 | Northwest MHTTC
The Northwest MHTTC and the Behavioral Health Training, Workforce and Policy Innovation Center of the BHI partnered to present an 8-session telehealth learning series for behavioral health providers across the continuum of behavioral health care in Washington State in response to COVID-19. The webinar series met twice weekly for four weeks and addressed a variety of topics related to telehealth, including operational and administrative issues (such as billing), equipment and technology requirements, and strategies to provide effective clinical care.
Telehealth Adapted Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Latino Populations | National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC
The current worldwide public health emergency has promoted many mental health providers to adapt to an online method of service delivery. This webinar provided general guidance on the integration of Latinx cultural values, motivational interviewing principles via telehealth, and on how to provide strategies for adapting motivational interviewing through a culturally affirming lens.
Telehealth Clinical and Technical Considerations for Mental Health Providers | Pacific Southwest MHTTC
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC’s new handbook is written for licensed behavioral health providers who are working to transition to telehealthcare. In this time of rapid change, clinicians need quick, accessible information on telehealth basics and best practices. Developed in consultation with mental health providers in our region, this guide includes tips and checklists, research-informed considerations, and more resources.
Telehealth in a Public Health Emergency: A Quick Start Guide | Great Lakes MHTTC
Presenter Jonathan Neufeld, director of the Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center, provided an overview of telehealth issues for behavioral health providers as they rapidly transition to virtual delivery of services and supports. Topics covered include definitions, modalities, and basics of delivering psychotherapy and other specialty mental health services.
Telehealth Learning and Consultation (TLC) Tuesdays | Mountain Plains MHTTC, Mid-America MHTTC, and Mid-America ATTC
Hosted by the Mountain Plains MHTTC and the Mid- America MHTTC and ATTC, this weekly online series is for providers who are unfamiliar with telehealth. Our Technology Transfer Center (TTC) Network specialists devoted the first 20 minutes of each hour-long session to a specific topic, then addressed questions submitted by TLC Tuesday registrants. Recordings and FAQs of the 20-minute presentations are posted below.
Telehealth Pearls, Pitfalls, and Strategies to Improve Patient Experience | Pacific Southwest MHTTC
This session discusses some of the benefits of a telehealth practice, as well as reviewing the risks. Dr. James Armontrout places particular emphasis on discussions of potential pitfalls, both legal and clinical, that may be encountered in the telehealth setting.
Telemedicine in the wake of COVID-19: Updates on the landscape of telemedicine in Minnesota and nationally | Great Lakes MHTTC
This webinar discusses how telemedicine is positively impacting behavioral health care's ability to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar also provides updates on new and moving federal and state telemedicine policies.
Recording coming soon!
Telemental Health & Engagement | Mid-America MHTTC
This webinar, presented by Mid-America MHTTC faculty trainer Holly Roberts, Ph.D., introduces best practices in telemental health while exploring the importance of telephonics.
Recording coming soon!
Tele-Mental Health During Turbulent Times: Practical Tools to Enhance Your Practice | Southeast MHTTC
Dr. Glenda Wrenn provides an overview of the unique challenges created by the pandemic that impact mental health and present ways to mitigate provider fatigue and burnout while providing both telepsychiatry and in person care. She also discusses how the intersection of mental health and current racial tensions may impact your practice, with helpful tools to navigate the discomfort and uncertainty of these unprecedented times.
Recording coming soon!
Telepsychiatry During COVID-19 | Southeast MHTTC
This fact sheet is a summary of the information shared in the SMI Advisor Webinar titled Telepsychiatry in the Era of COVID-19. The fact sheet covers the telepsych regulation changes that are currently in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and covers equipment, platforms, and license information that may be helpful to mental health clinicians during this time.
TeleSupervision: Clinical Supervision for Pandemic Times | Pacific Southwest MHTTC
This presentation provided a brief overview of practices and strategies for telesupervision: clinical supervision provided via video or phone. Presenters addressed best practices for communicating through tele-modalities to ensure that supervisors can recreate nuanced communication practices akin to in-person approaches. This session explored ethical and legal considerations across a range of topics, from informed consent to managing crises that arise in supervisees’ clinical encounters.
Teletherapy Tip Sheets | Central East MHTTC
Teletherapy connects clients to vital health care services through virtual formats, phone, or via other online or electronic means.
The Effectiveness and Utility of Telebehavioral (Telehealth) Services: The Future is Here | National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC
This webinar includes a brief review of telebehavioral health research and its efficacy, strategies that promote skill development, and resources related to guidelines, privacy/security, and confidentiality rules/regulations. Finally, the virtualization of behavioral health services post PHE are highlighted.
Recording coming soon!
The Role of Technology in Peer Support Services | Central East MHTTC
The purpose of this four-webinar series is to disseminate information and discuss applications of person-centered tools available to help engage and activate individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders in person-centered treatment and services.
Tools for Behavioral Health Professionals During a Public Health Crisis | Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC
A public health crisis can cause distress for all involved, including providers of behavioral health services. Attending to your personal well-being during this time is just as important as supporting the individuals you serve. Providers are encouraged to be aware of the toll that working with others in distress can have on their own mental well-being.
Using Technology to Improve Access and Quality of Child Mental Health Care | Southeast MHTTC
Drs. Kenneth Ruggiero and Margaret Anton described strategies to address COVID-related and other barriers to care and demonstrated an iPad-based toolkit that houses a collection of games and activities clinicians can use to improve quality of care in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
Virtual Learning Guide | Pacific Southwest MHTTC
Pacific Southwest MHTTC provides a workbook resource that focuses on ways for facilitators to design and deliver effective and engaging digital learning during COVID-19. It includes tips, examples, and reflective questions for those who are leading online professional development and other group learning events. This guide provides technical and interactive strategies and approaches to virtual learning to support the mental and school mental health workforce. Two study sessions are also provided that specifically discuss technology and facilitation practice. Each session covered different sections of the guide.
What Peer Support Specialists Need to Know about Telehealth in the Current Crisis - Part 1 and Part 2 | Central East MHTTC
As peer support specialists seek to quickly and effectively offer digital peer support across the United States, it is important that they — and their organizations — know the practical aspects of using digital peer support to deliver support services. Hosted by the Central East MHTTC, this presentation covered topics including the latest scientific developments on digital peer support and presents guidelines and emerging best practices to support service users through remote and telehealth technologies.
Center for Connected Health Policy, National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
SAMHSA
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights
American Psychiatric Association and The American Telemedicine Association
Best Practices in Video-Conferencing-Based Telemental Health
California School-Based Health Alliance
School Telehealth Webinar Series | May 14, 19, 21, 27
Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (CoE-PHI)
Telehealth and Privacy: Federal Guidance for SUD and Mental Health Treatment Providers
Tips for Patients to Keep Their Telehealth Visits Private (PDF)
Tips for Patients to Keep Their Telehealth Visits Private (Video)
Center for Practice Innovations at Columbia Psychiatric, New York State Psychiatric Institute
Telehealth Tips: Managing Suicidal Clients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Strengthening Faith Community Connectedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
National Telebehavioral Health Institute
Bibliography Telemental Health
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
Telehealth Resource Webliography for COVID-19 Pandemic
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Using Telehealth to Identify and Manage Health And Substance Use Disorder Conditions in Rural Areas
Project ECHO
Best Practices in Adoption of Telehealth: COVID 19 and Beyond Mini Series
SAMHSA
Rural Behavioral Health: Telehealth Challenges and Opportunities
Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
SMI Adviser
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Treating Suicidal Patients During COVID-19: Best Practices and Telehealth
Telehealth Certification Institute
States' Rules and Regulations
Zero Suicide Institute
Telehealth and Suicide Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS)
Peers Supporting Recovery From Mental Health Conditions
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare Learning Network
Telehealth Services
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
Telehealth Start-Up and Resource Guide Version 1.1
National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
COVID-19 Telehealth Toolkit
National Council for Behavioral Health
Resources and Tools for Addressing Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Toolkit
USC Adolescent Trauma Training Center
Trauma Teletherapy for Youth in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Adapting Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
American Society of Addiction Medicine
COVID-19 Supporting Access to Telehealth
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet
***Institute for Innovation and Implementation, University of Maryland School of Social Work
COVID-19 Telehealth Medicaid Expansions: A State-by-State Guide (roll-over map; updated daily)
Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services
Notification of Enforcement Discretion on Telehealth Remote Communications
SAMHSA
COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Response and 42 CFR Part 2 Guidance
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Telemedicine and Prescribing Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration
Use of Telemedicine While Providing Medication-Assisted Treatment
American Telemedicine Association
Center for Connected Health Policy National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
Center for Medicare & and Medicaid Services Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet
Center for Technology and Behavioral Health
Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality Center
Health Information Technology Training and Technical Assistance Center
National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
Telehealth Center of Excellence MUSC
Telehealth Center of Excellence UMMC
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline is standing by 24/7 to support you during the pandemic & beyond. Toll-free, multilingual, & confidential support services are available to all residents in the U.S. & its territories. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained counselor.
