What Medium of Mental Health Services do Clients Prefer – Online or Offline?

By : Simran Sharma, Archana Bahuguna

Page No: 451-466

Abstract: 
In recent times, online counselling is being considered a cost-effective alternative to traditional face-to-face counseling especially helpful for those who are in remote areas and have no access to such services. With this study, the authors have made an effort to understand the participants’ attitudes towards mental health services and their preference between online and face-to-face counseling. A survey is conducted with 203 users from age groups 16-40 years in India using Dr. Joseph Hammer’s Mental Health Seeking Attitude Scale and Aaron Rochlen’s online and face-to-face counseling attitudes scale. With the help of several statistical tools, it is found that a majority of the participants have an inclination toward online counseling and find it healthier, useful, and empowering as compared to face-to-face counseling. Based on these results, it seems like online counseling is more convenient for the participants and it seems to bridge the gap between practitioners and the people in need of mental health services.

Authors :
Simran Sharma
MSc Psychology (Clinical) – CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR, India.

Archana Bahuguna
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering, Nanotechnology – Pahoti Wellness, Delhi, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2022.17.02.17