British Mental Health Charity “Mind” has recently commented (Medical News Today) on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) finding that depression causes more damage to health than many chronic diseases such as angina, asthma, and diabetes.

Mind’s Head of Policy, Marcus Roberts, stated that “The treatment of depression must be given equal footing to the treatment of other conditions. While treatments for most physical health problems are readily accessible, mental health treatments such as talking therapies are limited, with some patients waiting months or even years for their first appointment with a therapist.” Roberts was referring to the situation in the UK, but the issue is widespread. In Canada, the US and elsewhere, vast numbers of depressed people sit at their desks, or worse, in their homes, suffering terribly.

Debates rage about whether medications or ‘talk therapies’ are better. If someone wants to take medications, which are best? Which of the 100+ forms of talk therapy is most effective? While these debates indicate a high level of public and professional interest in the subject, (Daily Mail) they also sadly overlook a contemporary truth. While research evidence has shown convincingly that both medication and cognitive behavior therapy both work reasonably well in many cases, countless people will never get the talk therapy they need.

Why? In my opinion, old school thinking has led the public and professional communities to believe that one-to-one therapy with a live therapist is the only way to go. I’d like to challenge this notion by saying I’d rather a family member of mine (requiring help with mood disorders or assorted behavioral challenges) get computer-based guidance on mental health issues than suffer quietly. In many cases, I’d prefer them getting ‘best practices’ advice and guidance online than trusting them to the myriad untested, unproven therapies delivered by the countless unregulated (and sometimes regulated) practitioners who happen to practice in their locale.

Solutions developed at the turn of the last century (face-to-face talk therapy) don’t need to restrict our options in 2007 and beyond. The web holds tomorrow’s behavioral health solutions, many of which are coming online today http://www.s4potential.com/

(Dr. Bill Winogron is vice-president, and he is responsible for product development at s4potential, a provider of excellent web or computer based CBT training and other e-training programs for correctional, health, social and corporate organizations.)