Many African Americans face barriers to mental healthcare, including stigma and accessibility. Mental healthcare providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to break these barriers, securely deliver mental health information, and promote overall well-being in the community.
Research on the management of depression in black people explains, “Black people have a greater stigma towards mental illness, compared to white people. Black people are less likely to seek treatment for depression, compared to their white counterparts. Black people also have greater mistrust of health care systems and health care professionals."
Consequently, African Americans frequently underreport and go untreated for depression. Furthermore, this stigma [impacts] health engagement, limits access to effective depression treatments and compromises positive patient-clinician communication.
Related: Using HIPAA compliant emails to overcome mental health stigma
Providers must advocate for better health outcomes in marginalized communities. HIPAA compliant emails allow providers to share mental health information, remind patients of their appointments, and schedule follow-ups.
Moreover, HIPAA compliant platforms, like Paubox, use advanced security measures like encryption and two-factor authentication, so only the intended recipient can access protected health information (PHI).
Mental health professionals can use HIPAA compliant emails to address the barriers African Americans face when looking for depression treatment. Patients can communicate with their healthcare professionals in a confidential setting, free of privacy breaches concerns.
Secure emails also improve ongoing mental health care, where providers can follow up with resources on depression coping methods or information about local support groups.
Learn more: How to implement cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in emails
Building trust is the first step to treating depression amongst African Americans, and secure communication helps to solidify that trust.
According to a study of the nature and level of trust between patients and healthcare providers, “Trust between the patient and the healthcare provider is important in provider-patient interaction and rapport. It influences patient management outcomes, especially in the treatment of long-term illness, as well as influences outcomes of health promotion and prevention initiatives. A trusting relationship between the healthcare provider and patient can have a direct therapeutic effect."
Healthcare professionals who adhere to HIPAA rules promote a trusting patient-provider relationship, encouraging patients to get the help they need.
There are many ways providers can use personalized HIPAA compliant emails to support African Americans in improving their mental health, including:
Supporting treatment adherence: Providers can email scheduled medication reminders, encouraging treatment adherence to improve mental health outcomes.
Keeping patients informed: HIPAA compliant emails can deliver personalized mental health information, like medication side effects or alternative treatment options, directly to patients' inboxes or mobile devices.
Building trust: Mental health professionals can use HIPAA compliant emails to promote nonjudgmental communication, reassuring clients that their information is secure and that they are free to share what they feel without fear of judgment or breach of privacy.
Empowering patients: HIPAA compliant emails give patients access to digitized health information, so they can make informed choices and adopt healthier behaviors. Empowered patients are more likely to actively manage chronic conditions, including depression, leading to better health outcomes.
Go deeper: Empowering patients with HIPAA compliant emails and texts
HIPAA sets standards for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI), including mental health records.
Yes, HIPAA compliant emailing platforms, like Paubox, use encryption and other security measures, so only authorized individuals can access the information.
Patients have the right to access, request corrections, and obtain a copy of their mental health information.