The use of videoconferencing for mental health assessment for 71 patients in a remote northern community in Labrador, Canada has been reported to be cost-effective for emergency medicine & possibly for psychiatry. The cost of sending a patient out of a remote community for suicide assessment was compared with the cost of maintenance & on-line charges of videoconference. The provision of mental health assessments for patients by videoconference proved to be effective and save money. (LC) (18 refs)