Stay Updated

Mental Health Comes Home: Breaking Stigmas Through In-Home Care

For much of history, mental health care was relegated to institutions, from the asylums of the 19th century to psychiatric hospitals of the 20th. Stigma, lack of accessibility, and societal misconceptions kept many from seeking treatment, leaving mental health as one of the most neglected areas of medicine. But today, the house call is reshaping how behavioral health services are delivered; bringing care into the home, where healing can happen in a more comfortable, stigma-free environment.

In-home mental health services are breaking down traditional barriers to care. Many individuals with depression, anxiety, or severe psychiatric conditions struggle to seek help due to mobility issues, financial constraints, or fear of judgment. House calls and virtual care eliminate these obstacles, offering support where patients feel safest.

DocGo is using its mobile health programs to expand behavioral health care access. Through its in-home care gap closure and population health initiatives, DocGo conducts depression screenings, helping to identify individuals in need of further psychiatric support. Incorporating depression screenings into mobile health programs can provide crucial early intervention and create direct pathways to higher levels of care when necessary.

The history of mental health care has been marked by isolation and stigma. But as house calls return in the 21st century, they are helping increase access to psychiatric care as well, making it more accessible, proactive, and compassionate than ever before.