Telehealth is Imperative for Mental Health Equity – Here’s Why

Updated on February 2, 2025

The debate over telehealth access continues to be on repeat with U.S. lawmakers. While the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) latest extension is great news for patients and providers, it feels like a knee-jerk reaction from federal agencies still working to align their perspectives. The misconduct of a few online prescribers, in their view, outweighs the advancements in life-saving care telehealth provides for patients with ADHD and other mental and behavioral health conditions.

When the telehealth waiver was on the brink of expiration in 2023, patients, providers, and concerned citizens rallied to submit more than 38,000 comments to the DEA. The result of these efforts culminated in two days of listening sessions, where I was honored to speak, representing the voices of many clinical and administrative colleagues in the community to advocate for telehealth access and objective measures to diagnose and manage ADHD. I strongly believe continuing access to virtual care is vital if we wish to achieve and maintain mental health equity.

The Role of Telehealth in Expanding Access for Behavioral Health

A research report from the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that 55% of mental health appointments are conducted virtually. This proves that virtual mental health care is not just a pandemic-era trend, but a movement toward an accessible, efficient, and patient-centered future.

The expansion of virtual care during the pandemic has bridged gaps beyond the days of lockdown. According to data from the Health Resources and Services Administration, more than half of the U.S. population is living in a mental health shortage area. Many of my family members live in such areas, and I myself live in a rural community outside of Asheville and see the struggles this brings. Virtual care removes barriers for mental health patients, like provider shortages, physical distance, stigma, and long wait times.

For people with ADHD, these challenges are all too familiar. The effects on executive functioning make it taxing for patients to keep up with their in-person appointments, if they can get them timely. Not to mention missed time at school or work, where we know untreated ADHD leads to under-employment. Such barriers make telehealth a more viable and accessible option for this patient population.

Moving beyond just screening conditions, advancements in technology have made it easier for clinicians to provide diagnostic and treatment services remotely. We know that Remote Patient and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring are widely accepted in conditions like MSK and physical health, but this is a growing opportunity in mental health as well. Evidence-based solutions like remote objective testing offer convenient access to ADHD assessments while arming providers with data to make more informed decisions. 

This type of advancement can help mental health and primary care providers better determine who they should see and who might need to be referred out for specialty care, who is doing well under management, and who needs more regular visits. 

A study published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry indicated that 44% of patients received a diagnostic decision faster within the first six months of their evaluation with the adoption of digital ADHD testing tools. Using remote objective testing in the diagnostic and treatment monitoring process accelerates the care pathway, ensuring optimal patient outcomes. 

Keeping a Pulse on Virtual Care in 2025

The stigma around conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression often hinders patients from receiving proper care. This problem will worsen if new regulations force them to seek care in person.

I believe telehealth is integral to improving the future of mental and behavioral health services, and the studies and data referenced are proof of the immense benefits virtual care brings to patients and clinicians alike. In-person visits have tremendous value, and it will be interesting to watch the data to see how a hybrid care delivery model further impacts patients and care providers.

The future of mental and behavioral care depends on several factors, but to me, accessibility, continuity, and quality are at the top. This means ensuring every patient, regardless of location or background, receives high-quality care. To make this a reality, we must focus on three core areas:

  1. Digital Equity: Underserved communities must be able to access telehealth services. Increasing technology access in care deserts and lower-income communities is crucial to receive care. Accessibility must be considered through the lens of those with disabilities, lower literacy rates, and lower socioeconomic status.
  1. Supportive Telehealth Policies: We must advocate for policies that balance accessibility and quality with patient safety. There are available safeguards for virtual care, like objective ADHD assessments, that ensure patients get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, along with continued treatment monitoring.
  1. Measure and Monitor Objectively: Leverage evidence-based, FDA-cleared digital tools to expand, advance, and update existing screening and monitoring for behavioral health conditions like ADHD. These should be more universal across disciplines to improve awareness and continuity of care delivery.

As an active ADHD advocate, committee member of APSARD (Association for Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders), and a facilitator of the ADHD Expert Consortium, I continue to push for improved, standardized ADHD care, whether it be in-clinic or remote.

I encourage anyone with an interest in the future of virtual care to educate themselves on current telehealth policies and consider supporting these key calls to action. We stand at a pivotal moment where there is a tremendous opportunity for all stakeholders to learn and collaborate for a more equitable and effective mental healthcare system. The time to act is now.

Danielle Powers Vaeth
Danielle Vaeth
Head of Strategic Market Development, US at Qbtech

Danielle Vaeth is Head of Strategic Market Development, US, for Qbtech.