Digital Lifelines: The Role of Online Mental Health Treatment in Preventing Suicide 

In the United States, mental health and mental health treatment have been an increasing topic of conversation over the last few years. According to the CDC, one in five Americans experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2023. Additionally, over 49,000 people died by suicide in 2022 [1].

These numbers are alarming and raise many flags about the state of mental health in the country. The emergence of online mental health treatment has been a critical intervention that supports everyone. This recent development in the mental health care industry has created more accessible care to a larger population of those who need it.  

Understanding the Suicide Prevention Landscape 

There are many risk factors that contribute to a lack of support for mental health issues. Understanding why mental health is important, needed, and necessary is the first step in preventing suicide.

Some important barriers to receiving adequate mental health treatment are [3]:  

Mental Health Stigma 

It’s difficult to seek mental health treatment when the fear of stigma and misinformation holds you back. The stigma of being weak for needing help or misinformation like therapy is useless, are commonly heard in mental health care. You might avoid talking about your issues, symptoms, a previous suicide or suicidal thoughts, and avoid admitting you need help at all due to the stigma around it.

Seeking help is brave, and understanding how beneficial therapy can be will help ease your mind when deciding if treatment is right for you.

Limited Accessibility + Time Constraints 

Not everyone can take the time they need to attend therapy. Having to take time off work once a week can be a challenge unless your job is flexible. Other limiting factors with a full 40-hour work week, such as scheduling a late-night or weekend appointment, are not common and can create a barrier to finding accessible care. Additionally, if you suffer from mobility issues, getting to a therapist appointment might feel or be impossible. 

Financial Limitations 

Therapy can get expensive if you’re paying out of pocket. Thankfully, many health insurance plans cover all or most therapy sessions now, along with medication, if applicable.  

Geographic restrictions

Therapists must be licensed in the state where they practice. This indicates if they can offer therapy to people in states other than the one they are licensed in, which is often restricted by state regulations, and means geographically you may have limited therapist options. This can create an additional barrier based on your mental health needs and the therapeutic techniques the therapists can offer.  

All of these barriers might seem overwhelming, but by overcoming them and understanding how they are beneficial can help you through difficult emotions or symptoms. Mental health support is the leading factor to help manage suicidal ideation and prevent suicide. When you find tools to manage your emotions, symptoms, and life, continuing feels more manageable.

The Rise of Virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs (Virtual IOP) 

As online therapy continues to rise in popularity, joining Clear Behavioral Health’s Virtual IOP brings you all the benefits needed for mental health care. We are committed to preventing suicide and suicidal ideation by providing specialized training with our online mental health professionals. Furthermore, our continuous research on suicidal ideation and suicide prevention enhances and strengthens our program’s effectiveness. This makes virtual IOP a great option for extra support.

This treatment program includes [4]:

Increased Accessibility 

When mental health can be accessed virtually, it can provide more options if you encounter barriers that prevent you from seeking out in-person therapy. This can mean anyone with a disability, prefers the comfort of their own home or needs an option that works with their work schedule such as evening program.

Reduced Stigma  

When therapy is more accessible, it can dismantle the common stigma and myths about mental health, which say that it’s useless. Experiencing the positive effects of therapy, understanding how common it is, and receiving support from the comfort of your own home will help rewrite the narrative.

Related: Destroying the Stigma of Mental Health Disorders  

Convenience and Flexibility  

The sheer convenience of virtual therapy in the comfort of your home and the flexibility with time make it the preferred choice for many.  

Continuity of Care 

When therapy is accessible, it makes continued care more dependable and enriching. You can continue your medication prescriptions and receive therapy and support long after discharge from an intensive outpatient program.

Clear Behavioral Health’s Comprehensive Virtual Care Model 

When you attend a virtual IOP with Clear Behavioral Health, you can expect a comprehensive approach to healing. Our virtual IOP provides:

Individual Therapy  

Attending individualized therapy, you will dive into your mental health history, upbringing, and any deep-rooted issues you’d like to assess. Talk therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) provide unique opportunities to discuss your mental health condition in depth, the nature of your stressors and triggers, and develop unique coping skills that support your specific needs and goals.

Group Therapy 

Participating in group therapy is beneficial because you get to meet and talk to others who have had similar experiences. Learning how they handle and manage emotions, navigate tense situations, and process situations differently can bring fresh perspectives. You will also gain understanding that you are not alone in your condition, and not only find support in the community but also provide support to others and build a network of people who understand you.  

Case Management 

The support of a case manager helps with learning real-life coping skills that can be used right away. Case managers are also vital in the process of finding additional resources and further support you may need and keeping you accountable to your healing.  

Psychiatric Evaluation and Medication Management 

If your mental health needs call for medication management, we have psychiatric providers who can assess mental health conditions and prescribe medications.  

Ongoing Suicide Evaluation

Our mental health professionals continuously check in on to your suicidal thoughts or ideation, and make sure to include suicide prevention with the tools you learn in sessions.

With our multidisciplinary team approach, licensed therapists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists, and case managers all work together to ensure you have a highly individualized treatment plan catered to you and any thoughts of self-harm you may have.  

Technology and Mental Health: Enhancing Connection and Support 

When using technology in the mental health sector, Clear Behavioral Health uses secure digital platforms that are HIPAA compliant to ensure privacy and take away any confidentiality concerns that you may have. When on a virtual call, you’re able to have real-time crisis intervention from your mental health specialists. Additionally, treatment effectiveness will continuously be measured to be sure you’re making significant progress.  

Potential Challenges in Online Mental Health Treatment 

Virtual mental health treatment is proven to be beneficial and effective. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may benefit from other forms of treatment.

Technology Barriers 

Not everyone has access to a laptop, computer, or even a smartphone. This proves an issue when trying to receive virtual care.  

Engagement and Participation Strategies  

Proper engagement and participation in your treatment is what will help you get the most out of therapy. However, participation can be challenging for some, especially in group therapy sessions. Attending virtual care creates a degree of separation that in-person care does not, which can make it less effective than in-person options.

Ensuring Patient Safety 

Without the in-person aspect at certain mental health crisis moments, it may be difficult to ensure patient safety in a virtual mental health treatment environment.

Consider Clear Behavioral Health’s Virtual IOP 

If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, depression, stress, PTSD and trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other mental health issues and feel like virtual care is the right fit for you, call Clear Behavioral Health today to learn more about our virtual IOP serving all of California. Our treatment programs are conveniently in-network with most insurance networks.

In addition to virtual treatment, we offer in-person treatment programs throughout the Los Angeles, CA area, including mental health residential treatment in Manhattan Beach and Torrance, as well as outpatient mental health programs in El Segundo, Santa Clarita, Van Nuys, and more. We provide safe and accessible therapeutic care no matter where you are in your healing journey.

We are committed to suicide prevention by including specialized training for online mental health professionals. Additionally, our ongoing research on suicidal ideation and suicide risk helps develop our programs even further. We are working to break down the barriers to getting mental health treatment and providing life-changing care for all. 

References: 

1. Protecting the nation’s mental health. (2024, August 8). Mental Health. https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about/what-cdc-is-doing.html 
2. Mental Health America. (2025, March 7). The State of Mental Health in America | Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/the-state-of-mental-health-in-america/ 
3. Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination
4. Mulvaney-Day, N., Dean, D., Miller, K., & Camacho-Cook, J. (2022). Trends in use of telehealth for behavioral health care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Considerations for payers and Employers. American Journal of Health Promotion, 36(7), 1237–1241. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171221112488e