Treatment and recovery for substance use disorders (SUDs), serious mental illness (SMI), and serious emotional disturbances (SEDs) can vary based on several factors, including geography, socioeconomics, culture, gender, race, ethnicity, and age. This can complicate evaluating the effectiveness of services, treatments, and supports. Despite these variations, however, there is substantial evidence to inform the types of resources that can help reduce substance use, lessen symptoms of mental illness, and improve quality of life.
This Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a comprehensive set of modules with resources to improve health outcomes for people at risk for, experiencing, or recovering from SMI and/or SUD. It is designed for practitioners, administrators, community leaders, and others considering an intervention for their organization or community. The guide reviews ways that telehealth modalities can be used to provide treatment for serious mental illness and substance use disorders among adults, distills the research into recommendations for practice, and provides examples of how these recommendations can be implemented.
This guide reviews literature and research findings related to this issue, examines emerging and best practices, discusses gaps in knowledge, and identifies challenges and strategies for implementation. While this guide is focused on the needs of people experiencing SMI and SUD, readers can broadly apply its resources and lessons from the field for the treatment of any mental illness.
Population of Focus: Adults
Links to Resources:
- Read the full guide Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Learn more about the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Read the advisory Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Substance Use Disorders from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Read the brief Rural Behavioral Health: Telehealth Challenges and Opportunities from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Date: 2021