Abstract

Mental Health Disorders (MHD) represent a serious public health issue in Lebanon. While MHDs are highly prevalent, access to Mental Health Services (MHS) is considerably low. Telemental Health (TMH) may mitigate this gap by remotely delivering MHS using information and communications technologies. TMH has not yet been adequately explored in Lebanon. We analyze the potential of TMH to improve MHS access and highlight implementation barriers and opportunities on patient, clinician, and systemic levels. TMH provides direct solutions to patient, clinician, and systemic challenges. TMH implementation has its own barriers, including lack of research and training on TMH and financial, technological, and infrastructural limitations. However, the usefulness, adaptability and scalability of TMH, the expressed interest in telehealth by the Ministry of Public Health and the growing global momentum around TMH are opportunities for adoption in Lebanon. Partnerships between CBOs, private, and governmental institutions are essential to develop, implement, and sustain TMH programs.

摘要

精神健康障碍 (MHD) 在黎巴嫩是一个严重的公共卫生问题。尽管 MHD 非常普遍，但获得心理健康服务 (MHS) 的机会却相当低。Telemental Health (TMH) 可以通过使用信息和通信技术远程提供 MHS 来缩小这一差距。黎巴嫩尚未充分探索 TMH。我们分析了 TMH 在改善 MHS 可及性方面的潜力，并强调了患者、临床医生和系统层面的实施障碍和机会。TMH 为患者、临床医生和系统性挑战提供直接的解决方案。TMH 的实施有其自身的障碍，包括缺乏对 TMH 的研究和培训以及财务、技术和基础设施的限制。然而，TMH 的实用性、适应性和可扩展性，公共卫生部对远程医疗表达的兴趣以及围绕 TMH 不断增长的全球势头是黎巴嫩采用的机会。CBO、私人和政府机构之间的伙伴关系对于制定、实施和维持 TMH 计划至关重要。