Online Self-Help Tied to Less Suicidal Ideation
As people are accessing more online interventions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that social workers explore the effectiveness of these tools before recommending them to clients. Although research may be limited because a lot of these tools are new and emerging, that does not mean we need to completely wait before recommending them to clients. Understanding what evidence there is, understanding what science these tools are based on, and properly educating clients on the tools are important steps before just sending the client away with whatever tool it is.
The article states, "what was surprising was the majority of the web-based therapies were self-guided, but still effective" (Monaco, 2020, para 5). Self-guided, web-based cognitive behavioral therapy can be an effective form of therapy. I don't think web-based interventions, especially self-guided, will every completely replace in-person psychotherapy. There is something powerful to be a physical safe space where there is no judgement and one is able to bare their soul so to speak. However, it is another tool social workers have to offer clients with some evidenced behind it.
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