The rise of digital mental health services has revolutionized the delivery of mental health care, particularly benefiting people living in rural and remote areas of Australia.
- Heidi Sturk, Director, e-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac)
Digital mental health services play a vital role in prevention, mental health literacy, stigma reduction, on-demand counselling, crisis support, peer support and psychological treatment, particularly in areas where traditional face-to-face services might be limited. Digital mental health encompasses apps, websites, digital tools, online programs, forums, phone, SMS, email, videochat and webchat services. These can complement standard face-to-face or telehealth therapies, enabling care providers to focus on complex cases, address waitlists, and integrate information, further supports and skills training into their sessions.
At times, digital mental health may appear impersonal, but it doesn’t have to be. Many of the services listed emphasize a strong human connection, particularly services that directly promote help-seeking and connection to a counsellor or peer support worker. Some online programs also offer guidance by a practitioner. Outlined below is an introduction to a selection of free, evidence-based, digital programs enhancing human connection.
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Online Treatment Programs
Online treatment programs offer consumers session-based treatment options for them to work through at their own pace. Select treatment programs offer contact with a therapist or own therapist integration features.
Peer Support Services
Peer support services allow consumers to obtain support from people who have “been there” themselves and can allow a space to trouble-shoot challenges and learn from others. Peer support can be offered in individual or group formats.
Crisis Services
Crisis services aim to facilitate help-seeking during times of significant distress and often provide short-term counselling and referral where appropriate.
Counselling Services
Counselling services allow consumers to work through a particular issue or problem, obtain a sense of validation and a referral to further support if required.
This list of services is for information purposes only - a clinician should thoroughly evaluate a service before recommending it to a client. This list is not exhaustive and represents a selection of resources that can be found on eMHPrac’s website. To find out more, please visit https://www.emhprac.org.au/ or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing tools visit https://wellmob.org.au/.
eMHPrac provides education, training, and guidance to health practitioners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers around digital mental health.
For consumers wanting digital mental health support, please visit the Head to Health portal https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/.
Article by:
Shelley Appleton, D.Psych(Clin), Clinical Psychologist, eMHPrac team
Dr Shelley Appleton is a Senior Research Officer with the eMHPrac team and a registered clinical psychologist and clinical supervisor. Shelley is passionate about facilitating access to mental health treatments and promoting mental health literacy in the general population.
