Breaking Down Barriers: Young Adult Interest and Use of Telehealth for Behavioral Health Services.

Objectives: Use of telehealth for behavioral health services has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines which young adults in Rhode Island were using these telehealth services and are interested in its use.
Methods: This cross-sectional web-based survey was administered in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, from May to October 2020.
Results: Results suggest sexual and gender minorities and those with low social status were more likely to access these services, highlighting its effectiveness at reaching disadvantaged young adults. Those with mental health symptoms were more likely to utilize telehealth, but those with substance use were not.
Conclusions: There is a missed opportunity to target substance use telehealth services to this willing and interested population. Continued coverage and use of telehealth for mental health and substance use services is essential in breaking down barriers to care for young adults in Rhode Island.