How to provide 24/7 support in a 9-5 work day: The benefit of e-mental health tools for young people in rural areas.

Noni HollondsProfessionals Program CoordinatorReachOut AustraliaOctober 2015

The problemYoung people in rural and remote Australia:• Report poorer mental health outcomes• Have limited access to support

Professionals in rural and remote Australia:• Have limited capacity• struggle to reach all those in need

Available 24/7

Evidence-based

Rural and remote access

e-Mental health services can extend the reach and impact of face-to-face services

What we know ... about young people who use ReachOut.com

1.2 million Australian visitors (60% are young people) in the past year

21% of young users (150,000) live in rural, regional or remote areas

56% of users indicate they are going through a tough time

Source: 2013 ReachOut.com user survey

What we know ... about young people in rural and remote areas.

60% report “very high distress” on K10

Distance from major cities positively correlates with choosing “tough time and looking for help” as a reason for visiting ReachOut

Cited “couldn’t afford the cost” and “too far to travel” as main barriers to seeking help

Source: 2013 ReachOut.com user survey

Access anytime

Tools for self-help

Easy to find

Access anywhere

Free or low cost

Pathways to support

Benefits of e-mental health tools and services for rural and remote young people

Resources are limited• Work hours are generally Mon-Fri 9-5 but many young

people need support outside these hours• Practitioners in rural and remote places cover a larger

geographic area and population

Source: AIHW 2009

Extend reach and impact of face-to-face

Evidence suggests that e-mental health tools and services can positively impact the mental health outcomes of users, especially when provided in conjunction with face-to-face services3

Benefits of e-mental health tools and services for professionals

Promoting the use of e-mental health resources

Recommending specific e-mental health resources

Supporting clients to independently use e-mental health resources

Using e-mental health resources in conjunction with other therapies

Practitioner involvement increases

Using e-mental health tools in-conjunction with face-to-face sessionsClinical Practice Model4

Promotion of e-mental health tools● Discuss the option of e-mental health tools or services● Encourage the client to search for something that

suits their own needs

Specific tool recommendation● Recommend a specific tool or service that is relevant

to their needs● Highlight the possible benefits of the tool

Supported access● Access the tool with them in a face-to-face session● Discuss the features and options for use and explore

the tool

● Fact sheets● Personal stories● Forums● Apps + The Toolbox● Pathways to support and

emergency help

In conjunction with other therapies● Use apps based on CBT techniques instead of paper

and pen tools● Encourage clients to use the tool outside regular

session when they need a little extra support (e.g. ReachOut Breathe or ReachOut WorryTime)

Useful tools for professionals

ReachOut Professionals - professionals.reachout.com● Information about using ReachOut.com with young people - Stay up to date

with what’s new on ReachOut● Reviews, tips and information about e-mental health tools and services● Online professional development training

The Toolbox - reachout.com/sites/thetoolbox ● A collection of health and wellbeing apps endorsed by professionals and

young people● Using the MARS (developed by Young and Well CRC)

eMHPrac - www.emhprac.org.au ● free e-mental health training and support for health practitioners

Facebook: facebook.com/ReachOutPro

Twitter: @ReachOutPro

Or send an email: Professionals@reachout.com

Reference list:1. AIHW 2009. Australia's welfare 2009. Australia's welfare no. 9. Cat. no. AUS 117.

Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 21 October 2015 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468304>.

2. Metcalf, A, Blake, V., 2013. ReachOut.com Annual User Survey Results. Sydney: ReachOut Australia.

3. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2015.e-Mental health: A guide for GPs.

4. Reynolds J, Griffiths KM, Cunningham JA, Bennett K, Bennett A. Clinical practice models for the use of e-mental health resources in primary health care by health professionals and peer workers: a conceptual framework. JMIR Mental Health 2015;2(1):e6.

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