Why telehealth alone isn't enough for children 3-11 years old

The current youth mental health crisis — which was declared a national emergency in 2021 — continues to present massive challenges to educators. It’s not just teenagers who need advocacy and practical support. In fact, the biggest increase in requests for mental health care in 2022 was for children 3-11 years old¹.

Schools like yours have taken a number of measures to address the mental health needs of students. You’ve likely hired additional mental health care workers, trained teachers how to respond to trauma, and promoted social-emotional learning². And chances are that your school counselors routinely refer students to outside mental health care providers — many of whom work with kids via teletherapy. 

However, in some situations, students and families might strongly prefer in-person therapy. And when teletherapy is the only method your school offers, those families may be utterly on their own to find an in-person provider. Fortunately, with the partnership of Care Solace, you can offer a choice of therapy methods to students — while also freeing up your staff. 

Teletherapy Is Effective for Kids If Conditions Are Right

Simply put, teletherapy is an online interaction between mental health providers and their patients. It’s similar to traditional, in-person therapy — except the session is conducted through a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Teletherapy can work well for kids because it is:

• Convenient. One of teletherapy’s biggest selling points is that families don’t have to worry about transportation to a clinic, finding parking, or getting a babysitter for the other children. In theory, all you need is Wi-Fi and a computer, tablet, or phone. 
• Comfortable. Teletherapy appointments can take place either at school or at home, so kids are more likely to feel less intimidated and more relaxed.
• Familiar. The idea of talking to a stranger about their feelings and struggles can feel awkward. But telehealth technology will be no stranger. Thanks to online learning during the pandemic, students have become very familiar with teleconferencing. 

In order for teletherapy to work at school, private spaces and school staff to supervise appointments have to be readily available. Given how stretched school staff is, that may not be possible. And at home, children need access to Wi-Fi and a computer — which not all households have. It’s important to remember that 16% of children live below the poverty line, and half are insured under Medicaid or CHIP³. 

In-Person Therapy Is Better Than Teletherapy for Some Kids

Despite the conveniences of teletherapy, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for children’s mental health care. Even when the school can support on-site teletherapy or the family has Wi-Fi and a computer, the child may be far better served in the real presence of a therapist. In-person therapy can create space for:

• Greater focus. Kids have learned how to use teleconferencing technology. But they, like the rest of us, have gotten quite comfortable multitasking or getting distracted in virtual rooms. The temptation is real. They may be scrolling on social media, texting friends, playing video games, or simply getting interrupted.
• Clearer non-verbal communication.  A therapist has a greater chance of understanding through eye contact and close observation of body posture, gestures, voice tone and pitch, and facial expressions. Reading those signals can be far easier and more accurate in person than through a screen.
• Kids who have been traumatized. Kids who have experienced violent or dangerous events may not respond as well to therapy virtually — and research on treating traumatized kids effectively via teletherapy has really just begun⁴. Until there is a body of evidence to show the efficacy of teletherapy for highly traumatized and vulnerable children, in-person therapy may be the best choice.
• Successful sessions with young children. 80% of school health professionals say in-person mental health care treatment best benefits children 3-11 years old¹. Therapeutic approaches with young children often involve games, art, and other interactive activities⁵.
• Intensive pathways to care. 46% of referred cases are for intensive pathways to care¹, which includes intensive outpatient, outpatient, inpatient, hospitalization, detox, and psychiatry. None of these services are done virtually. 

Yes, teletherapy can provide much that in-person therapy does, but it is not an exact replica. Some situations — and some children — can best be helped by human connection in a shared space. 

Care Solace Can Help Schools Connect Kids to the Right Help

28% of school health professionals say personal capacity – including not having the time to make phone calls or follow-up – is the main barrier preventing them from finding community-based providers for needs that exceed the scope of school-based services¹. That’s where Care Solace can step in and find help for every student in the way that’s best for them. 

Despite the increased demand and provider shortage, Care Solace connected to care faster than the national average in 2022. We responded to requests for help in less than 15 minutes on average and found matched providers within 5 days. 

Care Solace can:

• Act as an extension of your school support team. Care Solace supports those in need 24/7/365 and helps families navigate insurance, wait times, provider availability, and scheduling processes.

• Tap into a vast database of mental health providers. School counselors and parents don’t have to take on the heavy lift of making calls, leaving messages, and writing emails. Care Solace is determined to find community-based provider options — whether via teletherapy or in-person — as quickly as possible. 

• Provide Case Management and Referral Tracking software. School counselors can stay informed with real-time updates on the progress of each referral. They’ll stay updated every step of the way. 

91% of school health professionals saw improved well-being, behavior, attendance, and academic performance in students after they onboarded with Care Solace¹. And for every one child’s mental health improvement, there is a positive ripple effect for the entire school. 

Your educators will continue to do more than they went to school for. They’ll open their classroom doors, offer a listening ear, and direct kids to available school resources. But educators simply can’t be students’ sole support — and they don’t have to be. 

When your school is ready to take action and make a change for your students’ mental health, request a Care Solace demo. 

Footnote

1. Care Solace Year in Review

2. Restoring what the pandemic took: Social and emotional learning for kids

3. Childhood Poverty in the United States

4. Telemental health for child trauma treatment during and post-COVID-19: Limitations and considerations

5. Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents: Different Types