Ethical issues raised in using online tele-mental health (OTH): a review of studies

Abstract

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing technology in online platforms has been a primary method internationally for upholding the health care system during this world health crisis. Online tele-mental health (OTH) offers exciting new breaks for mental health practitioners. However, initiation of OTH has also come with a host of trials, particularly on ethical standards. The goal of this narrative review aims to highlight the raised ethical issues among studies applying the modality of OTH which is a timely resource for mental health professionals who have been forced to move into the practice of online consultations and sessions. Using the standard key points of the mental health practitioners’ codes of ethics, applying both the American Psychological Association (APA) and the code of ethics provided by the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) is used during the review. Results show that there are problems and uncertainties for mental health providers striving to fulfill the shift in technology. In this study, the five of the most critical ethical issues found in OTH encounters include issues of competency, issues in the interruptions of psychological services in using technology, issues in integrity, issues in privacy and confidentiality, and themes that are considered accessory issues in OTH. The recommendations provided adheres to lift ethical issues raised in the review.