The dawn of eMental health professional

The widespread reach and ease of use make technology a handy tool for today's practicing mental health professional (MHP), especially in light of the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) 2017, the essence of which safeguards the rights of patients while squarely placing the onus on MHPs. In order to keep up with the changing times, it is imperative for the MHP to be aware of the potential of technology to not only aid delivery but also ease the burden of care while being MHCA-compliant. In addition, the article calls for a more proactive role of the MHP in driving change in terms of leveraging technology in mental health settings. It looks at how certain tools can be incorporated across a range of scenarios right from wellness applications and facilitating medical adherence to aiding crisis intervention and extending quality care services in remotes areas. The article briefly outlines a framework involving various stakeholders at different levels as well as the channels in which the technology can be leveraged while keeping the patients’ rights front and center. The potential barriers that an “e-ready” MHP can expect and directions for moving ahead are discussed, keeping a critical eye on the lacunae in using technology.