Telehealth Services for Rural and Remote Communities

Perception Psychology offers telehealth psychology sessions to people living in rural and remote areas across Australia.

Living, working and travelling in rural and remote South Australia (SA) offers unique experiences. When you're in a rural or remote part of South Australia, some health services and specialist health care can be harder to access. It is important to plan ahead and know what is available to you in your area.

South Australia borders every state of mainland Australia and large areas are rural or remote. Around 1 in 5 South Australians live outside the greater Adelaide capital city region. Agriculture, manufacturing and mining are the main industries in South Australia.

Young people in rural and remote areas often face pressure to conform to locally acceptable patterns of behaviour. A sense of pessimism about future prospects, unemployment, loneliness, and the loss of relationships can exacerbate the risk of mental health problems. A lack of understanding in some rural communities for same-sex preferences, and the high use of alcohol and other drugs, add to the problem.

Older people in rural and remote areas are more likely to be living with a chronic condition, chronic pain or disability, either singularly or in combination. They are also more likely to experience challenges around mobility and social isolation – partly attributable to the lack of public transport – and access to pain management and palliative care. The greater prevalence of older people in rural and regional areas, along with the general ageing of the Australian population, makes mental health of older rural people an important and growing issue over the coming decades.

What is Telehealth?

In the wake of the COVID-19 lockdowns, telehealth has become a popular option for people seeking therapy. Telehealth therapy, also known as online therapy, involves using technology to connect with a therapist remotely. It has become an increasingly popular option for people in remote and rural areas across Australia.

What the Research Says

Telehealth therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues. Research has shown that telehealth therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In fact, a 2018 study found that there were no significant differences in treatment outcomes between in-person and online therapy. Another study from 2020 found that telehealth therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults.

This means that trained healthcare professionals are able to do their job in helping patients, regardless of whether the therapy is online or face-to-face. Experienced professionals, such as our psychologists at Perception Psychology, endeavour to make sure every patient gets the care and help they need.

The Advantages of Telehealth Therapy

One advantage of telehealth therapy is that it is more accessible than traditional in-person therapy. For example, individuals who live in rural areas may not have access to mental health services in their community. Telehealth therapy allows them to receive treatment from the comfort of their own homes. Telehealth therapy eliminates the need to travel to a therapist’s office, making it a more accessible option.