A growing demand for Mental Health Online
A world-first 'mental health online' program is hoping to give farmers help them deal with uncertainty and unexpected developments as reported by ABC.
Lead researcher Kate Fennell said mental health online will help farmers who live with a mental illness and also help prevent mental health issues.
"It is different from anything else because it helps farmers learn how to deal with things beyond their control. They will also learn how to access help if they need professional face-to-face mental health support," she said.
"What we want this to be is a resource that people can go to before they become really distressed, and learn some coping skills so they do not go on developing mental health issues that are in the clinical range."
The program is being developed by researchers at the University of South Australia and is in collaboration with the University of Adelaide, the National Centre for Farmer Health and the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health.
Dr Fennell said farmers would be able to log on and do a quiz to work out if they needed to access professional help or if they could do the self-help program.
"We are envisioning that they will be able to progress through a series of about six modules, which will include videos and interactive exercises, as well as a discussion forum where they can talk to other farmers anonymously," she said.
"We will be looking to measure their mental health at the beginning and then their mental health at the end, and see whether we have been able to increase their ability to particularly accept things that are out of their control." To read more click here.
The 17th International Mental Health Conference; Guiding the Change will be held at the brand new Sea World Resort Conference Centre on the Gold Coast, QLD from the 11 -12 August 2016. To register your attendance at the conference CLICK HERE.
This conference will bring together leading clinical practitioners, academics, service providers and mental health experts to deliberate and discuss Mental Health issues confronting Australia and New Zealand.
The conference program challenges, inspires, and is aimed to facilitate discussion. To view the Program CLICK HERE.
The 2016 Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium; working together integrating care will be held from 3-4 November 2016. The Conference is just 10 minutes from the Gold Coast Airport and held at Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, NSW
