Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Mental health disorders represent a major global health burden, with rural populations disproportionately affected due to barriers such as limited specialist availability, stigma, and geographical isolation. Telepsychiatry has emerged as a promising solution to expand access to mental health care. Nurse-led telepsychiatry models, in particular, offer a cost-effective and scalable approach to delivering quality psychiatric services in underserved settings. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led telepsychiatry consultations in improving clinical outcomes, treatment adherence, and patient satisfaction among rural populations. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 200 adults diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders, allocated to either an intervention group receiving nurse-led telepsychiatry consultations or a control group receiving standard referral-based care. Structured psychiatric assessments were conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using standardized tools. Symptom severity, adherence rates, and satisfaction scores were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores over six months compared to the control group. Adherence to scheduled consultations was notably higher in the intervention arm, with a larger proportion of participants completing ≥75% of sessions. Patient satisfaction scores were also significantly higher for telepsychiatry recipients. Effect sizes indicated clinically meaningful improvements, supporting the effectiveness of nurse-led telepsychiatry in symptom reduction and service engagement. Conclusion: Nurse-led telepsychiatry is a feasible, effective, and patient-centered approach to improving mental health outcomes in rural communities. By leveraging nursing expertise and telehealth technologies, this model enhances accessibility, continuity of care, and patient satisfaction. Practical recommendations include expanding nurse training, strengthening telepsychiatry infrastructure, integrating services into primary care, and implementing community engagement strategies to reduce stigma. This approach holds strong potential for bridging mental health treatment gaps and advancing equitable healthcare delivery in underserved areas.