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Video Conferencing and Telephonic Informed Consent for NAMI West Central Indiana Support Groups What is Telemental Health?“Telemental Health” is the provision of mental health services with the provider and recipient of services being in separate locations, and the services being delivered over electronic media. NAMI West Central Indiana does not provide therapeutic mental health services, but rather provides services using trained facilitators and peer counselors with lived experience with a mental health diagnosis.Services delivered via telemental health over electronic media rely on a number of electronic, often Internet based, technology tools. These tools may include videoconferencing software, email, text messaging, virtual environments. Here at NAMI WCI, as we adjust to the daily changes and restrictions with regard to Covid19 we plan to provide these services using the following tools: Zoom.us Cell phone Facebook messenger*You will need access to Internet services and a computer, I-Pad, or smartphone in order to engaged in video conferencing telemental health work with your provider. You will need access to a cell phone with cellular data or a landline with active telephone service for phone conferencing.Benefits and Risks of Telemental HealthReceiving services via telemental health allows you to: 1.) Receive services at times or in places where the service may not otherwise be available. 2) Receive services in a fashion that may be more convenient and less prone to delays than in- person meetings. 3) Receive services when you are unable to travel to the NAMI West Central Indiana office. 4) The unique characteristics of telemental health media may also help some people make improved progress on mental health goals that may not have been otherwise achievable without telemental health. Receiving services via telemental health has the following risks: 1) Telemental health services can be impacted by technical failures, may introduce risks to your privacy, and may reduce NAMI WCI's ability to directly intervene in crisis or emergencies. Here are a few examples: a) Internet connections and cloud services could cease working or become to unstable to use. b) Cloud-based service prersonnel, IT assistants, and malicious actors ("hackers") may have the ability to access your private information that is transmitted or stored in the process of telemental health-based service delivery. c) Computer or smartphone hardware can have sudden failures and run out of power, or local power services can go out. 2) Technical failure interruptions may disrupt services at important moments, and NAMI WCI may be unable to reach you quickly using another communication method, or using the most effective tools. NAMI WCI will also be unable to help you in person should a technical failure occur. 3) There may be additional benefits and risks to telemental health services that arise from the lack of in person contact or presence, the distance between you and NAMI WCI at the time of service, and the technicalogical tools used to deliver services. NAMI WCI will assess these potential benefits and risks, sometimes in collaboration with you, as your relationship progresses. We anticipate offering in person meetings in the future, while also continuing the on-line support as an option for future 1:1 meetings. Assessing Telemental Health's Fit For You. Although it is well validated by research, service delivery via telemental health is not a good fit for every person. NAMI WCI will continuously assess if working via telemental health is appropriate for your case. If it is not appropriate, NAMI WCI will attempt to help you find in-person providers with whom to continue services, however, this may be very difficult because of the in-person restrictions at this time due to Covid19.Please talk to NAMI WCI if you find the telemental health media so difficult to use that it distracts from the services being provided, if the medium causes trouble focusing on your services, or if there are any other reasons why the telemental health medium seems to be causing problems in receiving services. Raising your questions or concerns will not result in termination of services. Bringing your concerns to NAMI WCI is often a part of the process. You also have a right to stop receiving services by telemental health at any time. At this time NAMI WCI is not able to provide in person sessions with clients because of restrictions due to Covid19. If you decide to not participate in sessions either by phone and/or video then NAMI WCI will seek to refer you to an outside agency/provide who is providing in-person services. Your Telemental Health Environment You will be responsible for creating a safe and confidential space during sessions. You should use a space that is free of other people, and avoid public Wi-Fi. It should also be difficult or impossible for people outside the space to see or hear your interactions with NAMI WCI during the session. If you are unsure of how to do this, please ask NAMI WCI for assistance. *