Telehealth group interventions for addictions in a community mental health setting during the COVID-19 pandemic

Health services delivered over the internet, often referred to as telehealth services, are becoming an increasingly important way of providing healthcare. This has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary shift to online service delivery for many organizations that followed. Although there is some evidence that telehealth delivered mental health services are as effective as in person services, this evidence is limited to certain mental health issues, populations, and types of interventions. Very little is known about (1) the delivery of group interventions through telehealth and (2) using telehealth in the context of addictions. This project will help to fill this gap by partnering with a community organization, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, to examine the delivery of group interventions for people addictions and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will do this by conducting interviews with group facilitators and group members in order to gain an in depth understanding of their experience. Rideauwood Addictions and Family Services will benefit by learning about the benefits and challenges that arose and by better understanding the needs and experiences of their clients and staff members.

Faculty Supervisor:

John Sylvestre;Tim Aubry

Student:

Kimberly Turner

Partner:

Rideauwood

Discipline:

Psychology

Sector:

Health care and social assistance

University:

University of Ottawa