Navigating the Mental Health Internet

Lesson 2.2 Housebound Woman with Multiple Sclerosis

This case demonstrates the range of self-help services available on the Internet. In some surveys, over half of all Internet users reported using the Internet to seek information about a health issue within the past month. Tom Ferguson, M.D., who is head of the Consumer Healthcare Informatics area at Harvard Medical School and hosts one of the largest self-help sites, argues that Consumer Health Informatics will usher in a transition from Industrial Age to Information Age Health:

Health care is being reinvented, turning patients into providers and providing customized health information at the touch of a button. The self-care movement goes back at least to the early 1970s. What is different today is that we are seeing the emergence of a whole new generation of electronic tools that will make it considerably easier to do what only the most dedicated and diligent could do before. Consumer Health Informatics (CHI) is the study and development of a new breed of computer and telecommunication systems designed to be used use by layfolk. It now seems clear that later generations of CHI systems will allow us to build a new Information Age health care system around the health-savvy, health-responsible layperson. Ferguson Report

While his examples are all from medicine, his points apply to healthcare delivered by mental health professionals as well. Online support and self-care are currently among the most popular uses of the Internet. Tom Ferguson, MD reports that online groups concerning

physical health
mental health
recovery and general problems of living

each make up about one third of the traffic. His article gives an overview of the field. A Guided Tour of Self-Help Cyberspace by Tom Ferguson, MD

Case

The client is a 72 year old woman with advanced multiple sclerosis. After her recent exacerbation, she finds it very difficult to attend her support group. She has a voice activated computer which she uses for e-mail with her family, and she wants to participate in an online support group. She also wants to know how to obtain medical information on the Internet. She has asked you to help her find reputable sites.

Treatment Issues

Online support groups

Research demonstrates the value of support groups for persons coping with physical illness. You want to provide the client with some online support resources since she only has a few sessions allotted to work with you and is physically unable to attend a local support group.

Internet Resources
Both newsgroups and mailing list online support groups are available for persons coping with MS. The difference between these two types of online communication is covered in Lesson 5.

Psychcentral is a web site maintained by John Grohol, Psy.D., which has a list of online medical support group including alt.support.ms-recovery ,alt.support.mult-sclerosis, alt.support.mult-sclerosis.alternatives and a Multiple Sclerosis mailing list. (Try searching for multiple sclerosis to find these.)

Medical information on the Internet

The Internet is a vast archive of medical information, but not all is from credible sources. In addition, it is easy for consumers to get overwhelmed by the magnitude of resources available. You believe the client would benefit from a referral to a couple of reputable web sites.

Internet Resources
World of Multiple Sclerosis
This site is an international cooperative effort utilizing experts in all areas of MS to offer current and useful information to all members of the MS community (health professionals, researchers, persons with MS, families and carers) as well as the general public.

Healthatoz

This site has summaries of recent research, links to other reviewed web sites, and a Multiple Sclerosis Message Board where you can ask questions and share your experiences.