Patient–Health Care Professional Communication via a Secure Web-Based Portal in Severe Mental Health Conditions: Qualitative Analysis of Secure Messages

SM in outpatient mental health care is multifaceted and holds the potential to enhance therapeutic contact and improve access to care by enabling quick, low-threshold communication between patients and HCPs, allowing treatment-related concerns to be addressed promptly and effectively. However, the asynchronous nature of SM also poses new challenges, particularly in managing acute mental health crises and in setting boundaries to prevent HCPs from being perceived as constantly available. Therefore, specific training for HCPs-both during medical education and in clinical practice-is essential, along with clear guidelines on handling crises and managing sensitive information.