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In this edition:

• Happy New Year from eMHPrac!
• Digital Mental Health: A Year of Significant Shifts in 2023
• Insights from Orygen Youth Policy Workshop
• Introducing MHomentum 2024
• eMHPrac Podcast – Season 3 Episode 9
• Live Webinars from BDI
• WellMob Resource Sheets
• See the eMHPrac team at these upcoming conferences
• Read the latest dMH research articles
• This month’s featured service: SANE Forums

Greetings for the New Year from the eMHPrac team! As we step into a fresh chapter, let’s take a moment to embrace reflection and set uplifting intentions. The start of the New Year often inspires a focus on wellbeing, and we’re excited to share valuable digital tools like HeadGear, the Big 5, and myCompass. These resources can empower your clients and patients to kickstart a positive journey in the year ahead. Here’s to a year filled with wellness and growth!

Stay abreast of the latest developments in digital mental health by recapping some of the notable transformations in 2023. As we stride into 2024, let’s revisit key advancements that have shaped the landscape:

• Digital Mental Health Safety and Quality Standards: Launched in late 2022, the accreditation process gained momentum in 2023, with 11 services earning accreditation. This initiative ensures high standards across digital mental health products and services.
• Head to Health’s enhanced website: In 2023, Head to Health unveiled a revamped website, featuring a host of new tools and resources tailored for both health professionals and consumers. The update aims to enhance the overall user experience and make it easier for users to be connected to services that meet their needs.
• Black Dog Institute’s Health Professional Resource and Education Hub: Witness the launch of an innovative hub by the Black Dog Institute, offering a dynamic and accessible avenue for mental health professional development.
• New digital mental health offerings:
  • Dadspace: A dedicated website supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of expecting and new fathers.
  • 13YARN: Australia’s first 24/7 Indigenous-led crisis helpline.
  • Sleep Ninja: A CBT-based app designed to aid 12- to 16-year-olds in managing sleep problems.
  • SANE’s Guided Service: A free guided service facilitating participant connection to SANE’s digital resources through a personalized support plan.
  • Beyond Silence: A website assisting women victim/survivors of intimate partner sexual violence in acknowledging the abuse and seeking support.
• Enhancements to existing services:
  • WellMob Resource Sheets: WellMob introduced Resource Sheets, helping health professionals quickly find the right resources for their clients and patients.
  • Mental Health Online Updates: The revamped website by Mental Health Online, featuring updated treatment programs for depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD.

Dig deeper into these updates by checking out our blog.

eMHPrac’s Director, Heidi Sturk, recently engaged in Orygen’s Youth Policy Workshop, exploring the profound impact of digital technologies on youth mental health. The workshop placed a spotlight on the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and integrated datasets. The ensuing report articulate essential findings, delivering invaluable insights for policymakers and practitioners alike.

After 24 years, the International Mental Health Conference is undertaking a major rebrand to MHomentum.  Mhomentum will have an internationally curated selection of mental health developments, trends, expertise and experiences.

Season 3 Episode 9 – Season Finale: A look back on 2023

In the season finale of Digital Mental Health Musings, we take a look at the key moments from our conversations with the experts shaping the mental health landscape in 2023. From AI and chatbots to Australia’s ground-breaking digital mental health safety and quality standards, plus culturally responsive mental healthcare, data protection and privacy, a moderated online social community changing youth mental healthcare, the clinician attitudes and behaviours that support better client experiences with digital mental health, and more, we’ve covered a lot of ground.

You can listen to the full episode here and catch up on past episodes here. We look forward to joining you with more of the latest news in digital mental health in our next season!

“Mastering measurement-based care in mental health”

When: Online, 8 Feb 1pm AEDT and 8 Feb 8pm AEDT

RACGP CPD Approved Activity – 1 CPD hour – Educational Activities

Measurement-based care is gaining popularity, but which questionnaire should you use and what do the data really mean? Psychometric assessment encompasses everything from neuropsychological testing to self-report questionnaires like the K10. Clinical Psychologist Dr Peter Baldwin will take you through how self-report questionnaires work, how to choose a questionnaire, and how to quickly and effectively interpret the scores. He will also bust some common myths about mental health questionnaires and share insights from his research and clinical practice.

Peter will be joined by Dale Skinner, who lives with bipolar II. Dale is determined to provide a better understanding of mood disorders and in this webinar will share his own experience of navigating self-report questionnaires.

“Supporting Families when Dementia Comes Knocking”

When: Online, 27 Feb 12:30pm AEDT and 27 Feb 6pm AEDT

Many people experience difficulties when a family member, friend or someone under their care is diagnosed with dementia. Health professionals are increasingly being asked what community members can do to assist a person maintain their dignity and a good quality of life after a diagnosis of dementia.

In this webinar we will discuss these issues with Dr Hilton Koppe, GP Educator at Dementia Training Australia and facilitator of the award-winning Australian podcast “Dementia in Practice”.

Hit the ground running this New Year to find the best digital resources on the WellMob website to use the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There are 15 resource sheets covering diverse topics like Cultural Identity, Parenting, and Understanding and Healing from Trauma.

Whether you’re supporting Indigenous clients or just learning for yourself, there’s something here for everyone. Check out the Interactive pdf listing the entire range of Resource Sheets as a handy shortcut to save time searching and to quickly boost your knowledge.

Australian Association of Psychologists Inaugural Conference

20-22 March 2024, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, QLD

Presentation and Trade exhibit

Together in unity we are stronger.

See eMHPrac’s Directory Heidi Sturk present and visit the eMHPrac team at their trade booth.

Assessing patient adherence to and engagement with digital interventions for depression in clinical trials: systematic literature review

Forbes, A., Keleher, M. R., Venditto, M., & DiBiasi, F. (2023). Assessing patient adherence to and engagement with digital interventions for depression in clinical trials: systematic literature review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e43727. doi: 10.2196/43727

Automated virtual reality cognitive therapy versus virtual reality mental relaxation therapy for the treatment of persistent persecutory delusions in patients with psychosis (THRIVE): a parallel-group, single-blind, randomised controlled trial in England with mediation analysis

Freeman, D., Lister, R., Waite, F., Galal, U., Yu, L. M., Lambe, S., … & Rosebrock, L. (2023). Automated virtual reality cognitive therapy versus virtual reality mental relaxation therapy for the treatment of persistent persecutory delusions in patients with psychosis (THRIVE): a parallel-group, single-blind, randomised controlled trial in England with mediation analyses. The Lancet Psychiatry, 10(11), 836-847. Doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00257-2

Effectiveness of eHealth smoking cessation interventions: systematic review and meta-analysis

Fang, Y. E., Zhang, Z., Wang, R., Yang, B., Chen, C., Nisa, C., … & Yan, L. L. (2023). Effectiveness of eHealth smoking cessation interventions: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e45111. doi: 10.2196/45111

About SANE Forums

SANE Australia provides straightforward and concise information on treatment and self-help, and moderated forums providing peer-to-peer support. The forums provide peer support for people living with a mental illness or related mental health issues, and for family, friends and other carers.

Who is SANE Forums for?

SANE Australia is for anyone experiencing or caring for someone with a mental illness.

Is there a cost to use SANE Forums?

No. There is no cost to used SANE Australia’s online resources or to participate in forums.