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In this edition:
- World Health Day
- Medicare Mental Health Check In launched
- Read our recent blog on shared leadership for closing the gap
- A word from WellMob on using resources in practice
- See the eMHPrac team at these upcoming conferences
- Read the latest dMH research articles
- Shape the sector through research on digital perinatal mental health and the Minding Your Mind App
- This month’s featured service: ASSIST Plus and ASSIST Portal
World Health Day
World Health Day 2026 (7 April) brings a simple but important message, “Together for health. Stand with science”. Led by WHO, the campaign highlights how evidence and collaboration help turn knowledge into real‑world action across human, animal, and environmental health. In digital mental health, science is what helps ensure programs and tools are safe, effective, and appropriate for different groups. Our research evidence factsheets for Adults or Young People (12-25yrs) summarise the science in a clear, practical way, supporting health practitioners to make evidence-informed decisions.
Medicare Mental Health Check In for early mental health support
The Australian Government has launched Medicare Mental Health Check In, a new early intervention service to support people with mild mental health challenges or transient distress. The service is digital, free and accessible without a referral or diagnosis and available for people in Australia aged 16 years and over who are feeling down, stressed or overwhelmed.
Medicare Mental Health Check In helps people build practical skills to manage and improve their mental health through evidence-based, low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) which is based on the low-intensity support available through the UK’s Talking Therapies service.
People can now access telehealth appointments with a qualified mental health practitioner to work through online tools. From 30 May 2026, people will be able to choose to work through the online tools independently, at their own pace.
Please discuss this service with suitable patients. For more information, see the health professional fact sheet, or visit www.medicarementalhealthcheckin.gov.au.
Closing the Gap: Why Shared Leadership Matters for Community Wellbeing
Close the gap is the national framework designed to support stronger, healthier futures for First Nations communities, addressing ongoing inequities due to colonisation.
In our latest blog Angela Sheridan, a Wiradjuri women and WellMob project officer, explores how efforts to close the health gap are going, and reflects on why shared leadership matters for community wellbeing.
A word from WellMob
Workers yarn about using WellMob in practice
We’ve launched a new series of short videos where workers share how they use WellMob in real‑world settings to support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
Across health, education, training, youth and community services, workers yarn openly about what works—using WellMob to support young people on their wellbeing, learning and employment journeys, strengthen culturally responsive practice, and support professional learning.
In the series, workers share how WellMob provides culturally safe, flexible tools to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across different stages of their education, training and employment journeys. They also reflect on how WellMob fits into everyday practice across health, education and community settings, and how the platform can be easily embedded to support social and emotional wellbeing. The videos also explore how WellMob is used in education and training to build confidence and cultural responsiveness when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
Together, these short videos offer practical ideas and inspiration from lived practice. Whether you’re working directly with young people, supporting communities, or educating the future workforce, hear how WellMob is making a difference—on the ground, every day.
Catch us at these upcoming conferences
National Suicide Prevention Conference
28-30 April, Sydney, NSW
Trade Exhibit
This year’s conference theme is United Voices, Brighter Futures to inspire authentic collaboration, courageous conversations and lasting change.
Visit the eMHPrac team at their trade exhibit.
GPCE Sydney
15-17 May, Sydney, NSW
Trade Exhibit
Where healthcare professionals come to discover the latest medical innovations, learn about novel approaches to care through accredited CPD education and interact with industry leaders and peers.
Visit the eMHPrac team at their trade exhibit.
Health Through Ages and Stages Conference
30 May, Kingscliff, NSW
Presentations
A one-day education event bringing together primary health professionals to explore contemporary care across every stage of life.
See eMHPrac’s Director Heidi Sturk present and WellMob’s Director David Edwards and Mim Weber present.
What we’ve been reading
Smith, A. J., Mangelsdorf, S. N., Baker, S. T., Jafari, J., Alvarez-Jimenez, M., Hitchcock, C., & Cross, S. (2025). User character strengths and engagement prediction on a digital mental health platform for young people: longitudinal observational study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e73793.
Föyen, L. F., Zapel, E., Lekander, M., Hedman-Lagerlöf, E., & Lindsäter, E. (2025). Artificial intelligence vs. human expert: Licensed mental health clinicians’ blinded evaluation of AI-generated and expert psychological advice on quality, empathy, and perceived authorship. Internet Interventions, 41, 100841.
Bisby, M. A., Jervis, N., Fisher, A., Scott, A. J., Titov, N., & Dear, B. F. (2025). Development and initial evaluation of an ultra-brief digital treatment for perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms. Internet Interventions, 100866.
Shape the sector
Contribute to research that informs practice and policy
Understanding uptake of digital treatments: Help shape the future of perinatal mental health care
The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) is inviting health professionals who work with women during the perinatal period to take part in the Understanding Uptake research study.
Perinatal mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, affect many new and expecting mothers. However, most women do not receive treatment for these problems due to difficulty accessing face-to-face care. Evidence-based digital treatments can help fill this gap, yet they are not routinely offered in most healthcare settings. This study seeks to understand why, by surveying clinicians about the factors that limit them from using digital treatments in their practice.
This information will guide the implementation of digital treatments into healthcare settings, to reach more mothers in need.
Participation involves a short, anonymous 5-minute online survey.
Personalised care pilot for youth mental health clinicians
The University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre is inviting psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers working with young people aged 15–25 to join a pilot using personalised reports from the Minding Your Mind app. These reports show how mood, sleep, behaviour and functioning interact over time to support shared decision‑making in care. Involvement includes an online co‑design workshop, using reports with a small number of young people in your care, and completing brief surveys at baseline and follow-up. To learn more, contact Sam Huntley at sam.huntley@sydney.edu.au.
Our featured service…ASSIST Plus and ASSIST Portal
About ASSIST Plus and ASSIST Portal
This month we are featuring ASSIST Plus and ASSIST Portal, a pair of online resources supporting individuals and health practitioners to help identity and support individuals with alcohol and substance use issues. These resources from the Adelaide University aim to increase screening and intervention for substance use disorders across Australia.
Read our blog delving into ASSIST Plus and ASSIST Portal here.
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