A Qualitative Description Study of the Patient's Experience With Community-Based Virtual Crisis Care in Canada: Illustrating the Potential Positives and Negatives of Remote Support on Recovery

The study's objective is to describe how individuals accessing a virtual crisis stabilization program following discharge from an emergency mental health visit perceived the service as either facilitating or hindering recovery. Interested service users were identified through feedback surveys and contacted for an interview. Demographic and service utilization variables were obtained from the survey data. Interview data were analyzed thematically using an inductive approach focused on exploring perspectives related to recovery. Twenty-one participants were interviewed; one with a support person. Four recovery thematic categories were identified: (1) connection to others is possible or lacking; (2) access to care providers/therapeutic relationship; (3) ability to remain at home; and (4) virtual service provision. Each category generated subthemes that demonstrated both positive and negative impacts of the virtual service. Lived experience highlights typical aspects of crisis intervention, as well as unique themes related to the home environment and virtual care option. It is important to identify these contextual factors when determining if virtual care is right for an individual. Some areas for service improvement were also highlighted.