@article{ref1,
title="Telehealth during COVID-19: suicide prevention and American Indian communities in Montana",
journal="Telemedicine journal and e-health",
year="2021",
author="Pruitt, Zachary and Chapin, Kate P. and Eakin, Haley and Glover, Annie L.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Public health measures that prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing, may increase the risk for suicide among American Indians due to decreased social connectedness that is crucial to wellbeing. Telehealth represents a potential solution, but barriers to effective suicide prevention may exist. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: In collaboration with Tribal and Urban Indian Health Center providers, this study measured suicide prevention practices during COVID-19. A 44-item Likert-type, web-based survey was distributed to Montana-based professionals who directly provide suicide prevention services to American Indians at risk for suicide. Descriptive statistics were calculated for survey items, and Mann-Whitney U tests examined the differences in telehealth use, training, skills among Montana geographic areas, and barriers between providers and their clients/patients. <br><br>RESULTS: Among the 80 respondents, two-thirds agreed or strongly agreed that American Indians experienced greater social disconnection since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Almost 98% agreed that telehealth was needed, and 93% were willing to use telehealth for suicide prevention services. Among current users, 75% agreed telehealth was effective for suicide prevention. Over one-third of respondents reported using telehealth for the first time during COVID-19 pandemic, and 30% use telehealth at least &quot;usually&quot; since the COVID-19 pandemic began, up from 6.3%. Compared with their own experiences, providers perceive their American Indian client/patients as experiencing greater barriers to telehealth. <br><br>DISCUSSION: Telehealth was increasingly utilized for suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Opportunities to improve telehealth access should be explored, including investments in telehealth technologies for American Indians at risk for suicide.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1530-5627",
doi="10.1089/tmj.2021.0104",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2021.0104"
}