Through ‘the looking-glass’ – user experiences of video consultations in specialized mental health services for young people. A qualitative interview study

This paper aims to provide insight into youths’ experiences and attitudes toward the use of video consultations (VCs) in mental health services. The findings are examined through the lenses of actor-network theory (ANT) and the concept of the ‘looking-glass self’. The main objective was to explore how youths experienced VCs compared with face-to-face consultations with therapists. An exploratory and interpretative qualitative design was employed. Telephone and video interviews, based on a semi-structured interview guide, were conducted with 33 youths aged 16–23 years. Three themes emerged from the analysis: (a) The screen as a filter -‘Not for real’; (b) The screen as a looking glass; and (c) The screen as a barrier -‘feeling of closeness’. VCs may not replace face-to-face consultations in mental health services but may offer certain advantages during treatment. Individual differences among youths should therefore be considered when further developing and implementing VCs.