Mapping the Digital Frontier: A Bibliometric Exploration of Telemedicine and Mental Health Research

Background Telemedicine has emerged as a vital tool for delivering healthcare, particularly in addressing mental health needs and overcoming geographical barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its adoption, highlighting its importance in maintaining continuity of care and reducing infection risks. Despite rapid growth, there has been limited bibliometric evaluation of global telemedicine research in mental health. Methods A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database to identify telemedicine and mental health publications from 2014 to 2024. A total of 3,959 English-language research articles and reviews were included. Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software were employed to map conceptual, intellectual, and social structures. Analyses focused on publishing trends, leading authors, journals, institutions, funding bodies, keyword evolution, and international collaboration networks. Results Publication output increased sharply after 2019, peaking in 2021 with 714 papers. Medicine dominated the subject area (62.2%), followed by psychology and health professions. The USA led with 2,000 publications, followed by the UK, Australia, and Canada. Harvard Medical School and the VA Medical Center were leading institutions, while the Journal of Medical Internet Research and Telemedicine and e-Health emerged as key journals. Highly cited articles addressed the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 and the adaptation of mental health services to digital platforms. Keyword analysis revealed core themes in telemedicine, mental health, depression, and anxiety, with emerging trends in artificial intelligence, mHealth, and post-pandemic adaptations. Collaboration networks highlighted strong ties among the USA, UK, and Australia. Conclusion Telemedicine research in mental health has expanded rapidly, driven by the pandemic and advances in digital health. While high-income countries dominate the field, broader global collaboration and inclusion of low- and middle-income countries are needed. Future research should focus on evaluating patient outcomes, integrating AI and mobile platforms, and ensuring equitable access to digital mental health care.