Question 1

How can telepsychiatry help during COVID-19?

Accepted Answer

Right now, most Americans are stuck inside their homes, while the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues across the U.S. and worldwide. Normal business functions have, for the most part, shut down indefinitely. Many people, however, need services beyond food and water. Staying mentally healthy during these difficult times is one of the most challenging parts of the entire ordeal, and also one of the most important. The field of telepsychiatry allows individuals who are subject to shelter-in-place orders to get the mental health services they need without having to risk physical proximity near other individuals.

Question 2

What is #endthecycle? Why provide mental health care throughout the legal system?

Accepted Answer

The sad reality is that jails and prisons have become the new asylums.  According to the [Treatment Advocacy Center](https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/3695), 383,000 individuals with severe psychiatric disease were behind bars in the United States in 2014- roughly equivalent to the size of the city of Cleveland, Ohio.  It is tragic and unacceptable that many people who deserve mental health treatment are instead thrown behind bars where they are exposed to trauma and further deterioration.

At Orbit Health, we are determined to disrupt the cycle of mass incarceration of the mentally ill by inserting telepsychiatry at every stage of the criminal justice system.  This ensures that people who are vulnerable to incarceration have access to the right care at the right time.

Why is it important to provide mental health care throughout the legal system?  People who are in the active phase of a mental illness (psychotic, depressed, manic, etc), are not able to function appropriately within the legal system and can disrupt the courts and correctional facilities.  By contrast, when people are adequately treated for the mental illness, they are better able to navigate within the legal system, care for themselves, and stay out of trouble.

Perhaps most importantly, we have an ethical obligation to take care of our fellow man to reduce suffering and protect our communities.  Orbit Health is there to help people get the care they need, whether it is at the time of arrest, in court, behind bars, or on parole.

At Orbit Health, we believe that a healthier person means a healthier society.  Its time to #endthecycle of mass incarceration of the mentally ill.

Question 3

How can Orbit Health serve community mental health?

Accepted Answer

Orbit Health is a beacon for underserved communities. We have extensive experience providing essential [telepsychiatry](https://www.orbithealth.com/what-is-telepsychiatry/) services to community mental health programs such as county outpatient clinics, inpatient units, and crisis stabilization centers.

Our goal is to help provide essential psychiatric treatment to those in the community at risk for severe mental illness, homelessness, poverty, addiction, and [incarceration](https://www.orbithealth.com/telepsychiatry-services/correctional-care/cycle-of-mass-incarceration-of-the-mentally-ill/). We deliver high quality and reliable patient care remotely, through state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology.

Our services help community clinics and hospital function more efficiently and effectively, reducing the burden of serious mental illness on society.

To learn more, [contact Orbit Health today](https://www.orbithealth.com/contact-us/)!

Question 4

What conditions are treatable through telepsychiatry?

Accepted Answer

Telemedicine allows for treatment of any condition that does not require physical presence to treat.  Psychiatry is uniquely suitable for telemedicine practice.  Therapy, counseling, diagnosis, and treatment for nearly every psychological disorder — whether related to mood, anxiety, cognitive functioning, substance dependency, etc. — can be conducted via telepsychiatric sessions.

Telepsychiatry has the added benefit of allowing for specialists to conference in from anywhere in the country, or even the world, meaning that you can treat more specific, more esoteric, or more exotic conditions as needed.

Question 5

How can telepsychiatry help your correctional facility?

Accepted Answer

Orbit Health brings the most qualified mental health professionals right to your facility, without the need for in-person contact.  Telepsychiatry allows your facility access to qualified, capable psychiatrists, including specialists in the field of incarceration, located anywhere around the country.  Telepsychiatry offers benefits such as:

* You are not limited to the services of the nearest mental health treatment center.
* Doctors are not put at risk by being placed in direct contact with inmates.
* Increased access, including compliance with state and federal health regulations, at a reduced cost.
* Reduced gaps in care: Get help from experts in post-traumatic stress disorder, incarceration, violence, gender transition, and any other specific issues faced by your inmates.

Question 6

How does Orbit Health provide mobile response teams?

Accepted Answer

Orbit Health’s innovative mobile response team works with local law enforcement agencies to provide alternatives to arrest and incarceration for those suffering from mental and emotional difficulties.

We provide urgent [telepsychiatry](https://www.orbithealth.com/what-is-telepsychiatry/) evaluations to assess the safety and stability of patients in the community. Our mission is to help end the cycle of mass incarceration by providing ways to divert vulnerable people from incarceration, and toward the help that they need to be a productive member of society.

To learn more, [contact Orbit Health today](https://www.orbithealth.com/contact-us/)!

Question 7

Do I need specialized equipment for telepsychiatry?

Accepted Answer

In order to implement telepsychiatry, you need only a solid internet connection (DSL, cable, T1 or higher) and a device capable of videoconferencing.  While a laptop or PC with a good web camera and microphone are preferable, a tablet or even a smartphone can work in a pinch for teleconferencing.

No specialized media equipment is necessary, although you can certainly set up a conference room for ideal communications with a larger group of people.

Question 8

Why are mental health problems pervasive in correctional facilities?

Accepted Answer

There is a growing scientific consensus that proper mental health care is one of the most important parts of rehabilitation for incarcerated individuals.  Mental health treatment is one of the most effective components in reducing the likelihood of repeat offenses.  Although mental health disorders are neither a necessary nor a sufficient factor in either criminal activity or violence, mental health issues undoubtedly contribute to the likelihood of running afoul of the law.

In the United States, there are more mentally ill people in correctional facilities than there are in mental health hospitals.  Many criminal offenders struggle with mental illness and wind up in a correctional facility, and many incarcerated individuals develop psychological conditions as a result of their confinement.  The rate of mental illness in prisons may be as high as two to four times greater than in the general public.

Providing proper mental health services to people in jails, prisons, halfway houses and other facilities helps everyone.  Inmates get the psychiatric care that they need to become more productive members of society. In addition, the risk of suicide and other dangers can be mitigated, and healthy inmates are less likely to be involved in altercations with guards or other inmates while incarcerated.

By giving your correctional facility access to telepsychiatry, you can provide the mental health care that your inmates both need and deserve, without incurring the risk, inconvenience, and cost of either transporting inmates to treatment centers or transporting mental health professionals to your institution.

Question 9

What is Forensic Psychiatry?

Accepted Answer

Forensic psychiatry is a branch of medicine at the intersection of psychiatry and the law. Forensic psychiatrists are often hired by lawyers and judges to act as expert witnesses for both criminal and civil cases. They conduct psychiatric evaluations and offer opinions about how mental health issues relate to the case. Forensic psychiatrists can also be utilized as consultants to other doctors or administrators of organizations.

Forensic psychiatrists are in short supply, and it is often difficult to find one close by. Geographical distances can cause evaluation delays and involve expensive travel costs. With Orbit Health, the most qualified and experienced forensic psychiatrists can be added to your legal team, no matter your location, and on a much more reasonable budget.

Question 10

What are the benefits of telepsychiatry?

Accepted Answer

In addition to the obvious benefit of being able to see a mental health professional while under quarantine, telepsychiatry offers many additional advantages to traditional mental health care. Telepsychiatry can be much more economically feasible for many individuals who are unable to afford mental health care. Seeing a doctor from the comfort of your home eliminates the need to deal with travel, lost work hours, childcare, and other expenses that may arise from the need to travel to a specific location. It can also lead to lower co-pays by reducing overhead costs for mental healthcare providers.

Telepsychiatry also brings mental health care to regions that are currently under-served, such as rural areas. Not every locale has licensed, available mental healthcare professionals, and telepsychiatry allows qualified professionals to treat patients anywhere they can find an internet connection.

Moreover, telepsychiatry can help to escape some of the stigma associated with mental health care. Patients do not need to drive to a hospital or medical office and sit in a waiting room with strangers while at their most vulnerable. Instead, patients can simply log on and connect directly with their mental healthcare professionals.

If you are an administrator of a health system or a healthcare provider in need of a way to deliver mental health services, [reach out to Orbit Health](https://www.orbithealth.com/contact-us/) to discuss how telepsychiatry can expand your options for healthcare delivery and meet the needs of patients in today’s challenging environment.

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