In this episode, we speak to GP and BDI medical educator Dr Phoebe Holdenson-Kimura about a new resource for health professionals. We also talk about digital mental health and what blended care really looks like in practice.
The challenges associated with managing complex mental health conditions, client and peer relationships, as well as keeping on top of new developments and research in the field can be overwhelming – and, at times, lonely.
In this episode of Digital Mental Health Musings, we speak to GP and medical educator at Black Dog Institute, Dr Phoebe Holdenson-Kimura, about a new resource for health professionals that highlights the value of building an interdisciplinary community of peers and colleagues for tackling problems and gaining insights from across different disciplines within the mental health space.
Inter-collegial learning, says Dr Holdenson-Kimura, is at the heart of Black Dog Institute’s new online education hub, the Health Professional Resource and Education Hub. Centred around a moderated online forum called The Community of Practice, registered APRAH members can sign up to contribute to discussions about a range of topics like challenging cases and clinical scenarios, ideas about how to incorporate digital mental health into care – what works, what doesn’t, tips for overcoming barriers – how to approach burnout or support colleagues who might be struggling and much more. Like a virtual tea room, Dr Holdenson-Kimura says The Community of Practice is a place for these informal – but important – conversations.
“It’s an online space where people can share different ideas and ways of approaching problems – people can bring challenges or issues that they’ve been grappling with … it’s a safe place with other health professionals where those conversations can be had around practice. But it’s also a place to keep up to date about what’s happening in the mental health space, what’s been happening in the e-mental health space and to receive support around that inter collegial learning.”
– Dr Phoebe Holdenson-Kimura
We chat about how the Health Professional Resource and Education Hub works, which Health Professionals can benefit from it and what kind of content you can access. As well as the Community of Practice there’s an extensive range of short online webinars, podcasts and CPD modules covering the latest developments and research in mental health – like advances in digital mental health, cultural awareness, trauma informed care, early psychosis management and more. Dr Holdenson-Kimura takes us through all the ways health professionals can access expert insights and content related to their interest or field of practice.
We also talk about digital mental health and what blended care really looks like in practice. Talking about her own experience integrating digital mental health into care while working in far North Queensland – an area with no access to local psychology health services – Dr Holdenson-Kimura said understanding and prescribing digital mental health became essential in her role as a GP.
In this setting she saw first-hand the potential for change and improved quality of life that digital tools and blended care can have on clients.
“The change in quality of life was dramatic and it was something I just couldn’t have achieved by myself … seeing how powerful digital mental health could be there motivated me to keep trying it with other patients”.
– Dr Phoebe Holdenson-Kimura
While she agrees that digital mental health can’t replace the interpersonal relationship between health professional and patient, she argues that, when done well, blended care can free clinicians up to do more of the deeper, relational work that can significantly benefit clients.
You’ll also hear about Sleep Ninja one of Black Dog Institute’s new iCBT sleep apps for adolescents. We talk about how you can use the Health Professional Resource and Education Hub to gain confidence in using the app in clinical practice and how you might prescribe it with clients.
“You only need one powerful experience in how blended care can work to develop confidence and keep you motivated and invested in using it,” she adds.
To find out more about Black Dog Institute’s Health Professional Resource and Education Hub or to sign up click the link here.
Who is Dr Phoebe Holdenson-Kimura?
Pheobe is a GP working in Sydney who is passionate about promoting mental wellbeing and supporting GPs who have a special interest in Mental Health. With recent experience working in rural Far North Queensland and Cambodia, she is interested in rural and global perspectives on mental health.
Black Dog Institute: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
Black Dog Institute Health Professionals Education and Resource Hub: https://cop.learning.blackdoginstitute.org.au/#/public-dashboard
Sleep Ninja App: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/digital-tools-apps/sleep-ninja/
Listen to the full conversation below. You can also access Digital Mental Health Musings on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Deezer.
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