Abstract:
This study aimed to examine the characteristics of mental health problems of clients of the internet-based mental health services through MSN program according to the service providers perception; and the experience of the mental health service providers through MSN program. The respondents were 13 government officials from a Department of Mental Health. The data were collected by an in-depth interview and a content analysis using the consensual qualitative research method. The results indicated that: 1) From the service providers perception relationship was the most occurring problem in the study. 2) The service offered these advantages; easily-approachable for the clients who did not want to be identified, privacy, immediacy, the conversations could be reconsidered, and able to do multiple things simultaneously. 3)The limitations of the service consisted of the difficulties in understanding clients feelings, the absence of non-verbal clues, sluggish communication, unable to identify the truth from the clients, and limited for some groups of clients. 4) The service providers were required to posses the expertise in mental health, the basic counseling skills, the language skills, and technology. 5) The guidelines of working procedures of the mental service were described. 6) Helping methods were to be clients mental health supporter, provided the clients with suggestion, provided the information about the other appropriate services, and to convince the seriously ill clients to receive the appropriate treatment. 7) The major obstacles of the service providers included technological problems, specific characteristics of MSN program, disturbed by agitator, unintentional mistakes of service providers, and some unsystematic working problems, and they also gave some suggestion for service improvement. 8) The service providers were happy and proud of providing a good service to the clients and appreciated the value of helping when their clients were relieved. The findings were presented as a baseline for the future research and practices. Therefore, it is suggested that the organizations in charge should take part in promoting the further studies and supporting the development of such a valuable service.