Adult experts’ perceptions of telemental health for youth: a Delphi study

Objectives: Our objectives were to measure experts’ opinions and develop consensus via the Delphi process on the barriers, applications, and concerns associated with telemental health (TMH) for youth.

Materials and methods: We delivered 3 online surveys over 2 months in Summer, 2016–2025 adult experts, including adults who experienced youth depression or suicidality, parents of youth with lived experience, and professionals (ie youth mental health researchers, clinicians/staff, or educators). We used the Delphi method to construct Likert and open-ended questions, developing expert consensus over 3 iterative surveys on the barriers and benefits of TMH for youth.

Results: Adult experts identified stigma and knowledge barriers to youth mental health care. Although TMH is perceived as beneficial for screening, education, follow-up, and emotional support, no single delivery method (eg websites or instant messaging) was deemed universally beneficial.

Discussion: Adults are the develo...