Use of digital technologies in mental health during COVID-19

Abstract

Most countries did not have a consolidated digital health structure before the pandemic. Both social distancing and mental health problems resulting from the situation justify the urgency of discussions on web-mediated interventions. The objective of this work is to present the panorama of technological mediation in mental health services and their specificities in the context of the pandemic. This paper is grounded on a critical look at the migration from face-to-face care to the Internet environment, highlighting: the international experiences using digital technologies in the pandemic context; the challenges in online consultations, emphasizing the importance of the ethical, technical/technological, and clinical domains, which are recurring issues in the international literature; the challenges and perspectives in the use of technologies. It is essential to develop strategies aligned with government incentives, aiming at the quality of the offered services and the guarantee of an adequate hybrid qualification.