Opportunities for and Tensions Surrounding the Use of Technology-Enabled Mental Health Services in Community Mental Health Care

Technology-enabled mental health services have the potential to expand the reach of care and reduce clinician demand. While the efficacy of technology-enabled mental health services is well established, there have been few successful implementations of such services into community care settings. Using mixed methods, 89 clinicians and supervisors at a mental health service organization shared attitudes toward and interest in using a variety of technologies in their work. Participants discussed several challenges and opportunities for technology-enabled mental health services. Whilst clinicians saw potential for technology to engage individuals both in and outside the clinical environment, the range of therapeutic techniques used by clinicians presented a challenge in implementing a tool to meet their needs. Client technology access was a concern, and although text messaging would facilitate communication, current HIPAA and payment structures restrict this ability. With these considerations, we offer recommendations for implementing technological services in community mental health organizations.