Business & Economy
Technology could improve state's mental health
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By RAY WILBUR
Capital News Service
LANSING — A lack of psychiatric counselors across the state and an increase in people with mental illness have created the need for mental health care that transcends county and city lines. Telepsychiatry – psychiatric therapy provided through video and phone conference – is the answer, some health officials say. In Michigan, some lawmakers are pushing to join a compact expanding the network of telepsychiatry providers. Opponents have raised concerns over how it would be regulated. As of 2012, there were 3,669 mental health professional shortage areas containing almost 91 million people, according to the federal Health Resources and Service Administration.