The Marriage & Relationship Institute

Research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for various mental health conditions.

One literature review of studies found online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to be just as effective as in-person therapy in treating moderate depression. Another review found that online CBT was equally effective as a face-to-face treatment for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Online therapy is even shown to be effective in reducing problem gambling behaviors.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected.

There’s no sure way to prevent mental illness. However, if you have a mental illness, taking steps to speak with someone about your concerns, control stress, to increase your resilience and to boost low self-esteem may help keep your symptoms under control.

At this time, most mental illnesses cannot be cured, but they can usually be treated effectively to minimize the symptoms and allow the individual to function in work, school, or social environments. To begin treatment, an individual needs to see a qualified mental health professional.