Journal of Technology in Human Services

Cloud computing technologies are fast becoming an integral component of the current
health care practices. The foundational infrastructure to support secure and reliable
healthcare applications has been established. However, in rural areas, the adoption of cloud
technology is limited. The rapid growth in cloud computing has encouraged more people in
rural communities to access and use technology. Rural communities are frequently isolated
from traditional mental health service delivery. This can be especially true when people
choose to live in a rural community rather than an urban population center.
Mental Health Services are indispensable for the growth and development of individuals,
families, and communities in rural areas. Mental health workers play a significant role in
providing these services to rural populations. Providing such comprehensive mental health
services places a burden on an already severely de-resourced mental health workforce to
provide quality care to these vulnerable populations. Many developed countries are
efficiently utilizing cloud computing technologies. However, they have not been taken
advantage of within resource-constrained environments. This is even though cloud
computing has the potential to be utilized as a mechanism for rural service delivery, and it
could be used to tackle many of the challenges faced by mental health workers who serve
rural communities. The significant shortage of rural psychologists and other mental health
professionals has contributed to a large access gap that is problematic for those with mental
health needs who live in rural settings. Such individuals typically have less access to specialty
mental health care and higher rates of substance use, depression, suicide, and difficulty
accessing evidence-based treatments.
Innovation and information technology are significant to mental health development.
Technological advances may hold some promise toward addressing these critical issues.
Cloud computing technologies (CCT) could help rural practitioners identify problems, provide
decision-making support, facilitate training and supervision, deliver treatment through
telehealth, and collaborate with colleagues. The progress made in developing the
infrastructure and tools needed for cloud-based systems can serve as a basis and inspiration
for developing new models of intervention aimed at decreasing the psychiatric morbidity
burden in rural areas. Abundant research has proved that Cloud Computing Technologies for
Psychotherapy and Mental Health Development possesses unique benefits, such as
improving the clinical efficacy of psychotherapy practice, promoting clinical management,
and cost reduction. Cloud is a promising technology for psychologists, occupational
therapists, and social workers to save time and effort and see more patients/clients.
However, we need research on how young mental health professionals can use cloud
services in rural areas effectively and efficiently for their patients. This special issue explores the application of cloud computing technologies to future psychotherapy integration in rural
mental health development.
LIST OF TOPICS OF INTEREST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: -
 Characteristics of Service delivery and integration in rural mental health contexts
 Establishment of the theoretical foundations of psychotherapy and cloud computing
technology
 Summarization of current applications of user-centered design in psychology
 New Concept of Evidence-based community psychology
 Discussion about ethical questions in using cloud-assisted psychotherapy
 Role of Cloud Computing in Workforce development and training in rural mental
health
 Implications for rural mental health development within local psychotherapies from a
broad range of theoretical perspectives
 Psychotherapy interventions for clinical populations with technology
 Psychological treatment of children and adolescents with cloud computing
technologies
 Innovation and inclusion in Electronic mental health services for rural areas
 Use of technologies to address stigma and community participation and engagement
 Data analytics and machine learning in psychology and mental health

Submissions due: - 25th January 2024
Preliminary notification: - 10th May 2024
Revisions due: - 25th August 2024
Final notification: - 05th November 2024

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