Mental health goes online
September 6, 2011
MINISTER for Mental Health and
Ageing, Mark Butler, today
announced the establishment of a
new “e-mental health expert
committee” which will advise on
the rollout of Australia’s first
mental health online portal and
‘virtual clinic’.
He said the move was part of the
development of the country’s first
national e-mental health strategy.
“Continuing advances in
technology are revolutionising the
way we provide health care, in
particular for patients with chronic
illnesses and conditions, such as
mental illness,” he said.
Butler said that online mental
health services provide an
alternative form of care for people
who don’t feel comfortable
accessing traditional face-to-face
services.
“Online services have the
potential to overcome geographical,
attitudinal and financial barriers
which we know that young
Australians or people living in
remote or regional areas often
face,” he added.
The new virtual clinic is claimed
to have the potential to treat
thousands of Australians living with
mild to moderately severe
depression and anxiety disorders,
with $48 million in funding
provided over the next five years
for telephone counselling, self-help
and web-based support services.
Members of the expert
committee will include Lifeline ceo
Dr Maggie Jamieson, Ryan
McLaughlan from Suicide Prevention
Australia, Associate Prof James
Bennett-Levy from Sydney Uni,
ANU’s Prof Helen Christensen, as
well as consumer and carer
representatives from the Mental
Health Council of Australia and
social media expert Rachel de Sain.
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