Doctor Anywhere launches telemedical mental health support
Employees in Singapore will be able to access the telehealth provider’s online mental health video consultation service – helping to break down the ‘taboo’ around mental health in Asia
With Doctor Anywhere’s new mental health consultation service – which is available to employers to help support their employees – users are able to book therapy sessions over video consultation with one of a panel of registered psychologists and counsellors through the Doctor Anywhere app. Each 60-minute consultation can be conducted in the privacy of the user's home via calls that are end-to-end encrypted, with patient records kept confidential.
“The unique challenges created by the pandemic have brought about an unprecedented level of stress, anxiety and other symptoms of poor mental health to the world. Since the pandemic started, we've observed more users consulting our doctors for stress-related issues such as insomnia. Access to support for mental wellbeing is more critical now than ever before,” said Lim Wai Mun, Founder and CEO of Doctor Anywhere.
Reducing the psychological barrier to mental health support
A survey conducted by Doctor Anywhere in June this year highlighted that younger users often face barriers when seeking mental health support – fear of judgement and the high costs of therapy are more likely to deter respondents aged 18 to 24 from seeking help, Doctor Anywhere’s survey revealed. But, then again, respondents aged 18 to 34 are significantly more receptive to seeking therapy compared to older age groups.
However, the global pandemic has caused the number of people seeking mental health support, and opening up about this, to increase – and so healthcare providers and developers have responded by offering enhanced support.
“The topic of mental health is still a taboo in Asian societies. We want to provide a safe and accessible environment for people to seek help from psychologists and counsellors easily and conveniently,” Wai Mun said. “A virtual platform like Doctor Anywhere can reduce the psychological barrier associated with visiting a mental health professional and provide time and cost savings for both the user and the provider,” he added.