Abstract
Background: Videoconferencing is considered an alternative to face-to-face consultations and a possibility to help
overcome access-to-care barriers in mental health care services. Barriers to child and adolescent mental health
services are particularly apparent in the case of children and adolescents receiving child welfare services. This scop-
ing review aims to provide an overview of research on videoconferencing in the mental health treatment of children
and adolescents receiving support from child welfare services.
Methods: This scoping review follows the review framework outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The follow-
ing databases were searched from January 2012 to April 2024: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO (Ovid),
CINAHL Plus, Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest), Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest), and Google Scholar.
Results The search yielded 4322 unique records and resulted in the inclusion of 22 articles that met the inclusion
criteria. The studies originated from Denmark, England, Australia, Norway, Canada, Chile, and the USA, and were
grouped into four areas: (1) videoconferencing to increase access to mental health treatment for vulnerable groups (2)
young people’s perspectives (3) videoconferencing in interdisciplinary collaborative meetings, and (4) use, awareness,
and acceptance of videoconferencing among health and social care providers.
Conclusions: This scoping review shows that if videoconferencing in mental health care is to become an estab-
lished and trusted method aimed at children and adolescents receiving child welfare services, several unresolved
and potentially negative issues need attention and more research. This particularly applies to whether videoconfer-
encing decreases or exacerbates inequalities in access to mental health services. A further question is whether new
barriers are raised by screen-based treatment to threaten good therapeutic relationships, and by extension treatment
quality and clinical outcomes
overcome access-to-care barriers in mental health care services. Barriers to child and adolescent mental health
services are particularly apparent in the case of children and adolescents receiving child welfare services. This scop-
ing review aims to provide an overview of research on videoconferencing in the mental health treatment of children
and adolescents receiving support from child welfare services.
Methods: This scoping review follows the review framework outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The follow-
ing databases were searched from January 2012 to April 2024: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO (Ovid),
CINAHL Plus, Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest), Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest), and Google Scholar.
Results The search yielded 4322 unique records and resulted in the inclusion of 22 articles that met the inclusion
criteria. The studies originated from Denmark, England, Australia, Norway, Canada, Chile, and the USA, and were
grouped into four areas: (1) videoconferencing to increase access to mental health treatment for vulnerable groups (2)
young people’s perspectives (3) videoconferencing in interdisciplinary collaborative meetings, and (4) use, awareness,
and acceptance of videoconferencing among health and social care providers.
Conclusions: This scoping review shows that if videoconferencing in mental health care is to become an estab-
lished and trusted method aimed at children and adolescents receiving child welfare services, several unresolved
and potentially negative issues need attention and more research. This particularly applies to whether videoconfer-
encing decreases or exacerbates inequalities in access to mental health services. A further question is whether new
barriers are raised by screen-based treatment to threaten good therapeutic relationships, and by extension treatment
quality and clinical outcomes
