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In this edition:

• Exciting News: Head to Health Website Update!
• eMHPrac Podcast – Season 3 Episode 2
• Live Wbinar from BDI: ‘Anxiety Disorders in Women’
• Participate in a Trial of the Build Back Better App
• It’s Pride Month: Empowering LGBTQIA+ Mental Health with Digital Services
• WellMob – new blog post
• See the eMHPrac team at these upcoming conferences
• Read the latest dMH research articles
• This month’s featured service: QLife

The Head to Health website has undergone a major update! Australians can now enjoy an enhanced digital mental health experience. The refreshed website features a new look and feel, improved navigation, expanded service options, a guided quiz for personalized recommendations, and support for managing challenging situations.

Season 3 Episode 2 – ‘Australia’s new Digital Mental Health Standards will help deliver safer and more effective care – here’s what it means for health professionals’

Guest: Chris Boyd-Skinner (Manager of Digital Mental Health, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care), Rachel Green (CEO, SANE Australia), Dr Anita Moss (GP Obstetrician)

The rapid rise of digital mental health programs and services has brought with it much promise to the concept of mental health treatment – particularly the promise of leveling mental healthcare disparity with the potential for faster care and more equitable access.

In this episode, we take a deeper look at how Australia is leading the way in setting a standard for digital mental health safety and quality and what that means for health professionals and the future of digital mental healthcare.

Watch or listen to the podcast episode here and catch up on past episodes here.

“Anxiety Disorders in Women”

When: Wednesday 21st of June, 1pm and 8pm AEST or anytime on demand

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health condition, and the leading cause of total burden amongst females aged 5-64. This webinar will summarise the factors that increase the risk for anxiety amongst women and discuss how biological factors like the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraception impact anxiety severity and treatment responsiveness. They will describe how to modify the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders to improve outcomes for women by attending to these female-specific factors.

Are you a current or previous employee (within the past two years) or volunteer of an emergency service organization? The Black Dog Institute and UNSW are inviting you to be part of a study that aims to test the effectiveness of the smartphone app, “Build Back Better.” This app is specifically designed to reduce mental health and wellbeing issues among emergency service workers. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to contribute to cutting-edge research and make a positive impact on the lives of emergency workers.

June is here, and it’s time to celebrate Pride Month! This month, we want to highlight the power of digital mental health services in providing safe and accessible resources for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Online platforms provide a safe and confidential environment to explore personal experiences, find relevant information, and connect with LGBTQIA+ friendly mental health professionals. These services are designed to address the unique challenges and needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, promoting mental well-being, resilience, and self-acceptance.

There are a range of digital mental health resources designed for LGBTQIA+ people to support many of the unique challenges that they may face.

• ACON is an informative website to support the physical, social, and mental health of LGBTQIA_ people.
• Say It Out Loud offers information for LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities about healthy relationships.
• Touchbase provides information and resources on substance use, mental health, and sexual health.
• QLife offers phone and online counselling and referrals for people of diverse sex, genders, and sexualities.

eMHPrac has developed a factsheet of LGBTQIA+ services including crisis support, information sites and counselling services which can be accessed here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients often feel more comfortable and open when they perceive that their mental health care provider respects and values their cultural background.

Indigenous-specific online resources often emphasise empowerment, self-determination, and community-based healing and the WellMob website makes accessing these culturally appropriate online social and emotional wellbeing resources easier for clinicians and practitioners to implement culturally appropriate mental health care into their work.

WellMob is a library of online resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples based on the holistic model of social and emotional wellbeing that is more than just mental health. It includes apps, podcasts, videos, fact sheets and websites.

National Allied Health Conference

7-9 August 2023, Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre, Perth, WA

Presentation and Trade exhibit

The Theme – Expanding Horizons will encourage all participants to explore the many and varied opportunities and contributions of Allied Health.

See eMHPrac Director Heidi Sturk present and visit the eMHPrac team at their trade exhibit.

The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Conference

15-18 August 2023, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide SA

Presentation and Trade exhibit

Bringing humanity and human rights into mental health.

See eMHPrac Director Heidi Sturk present and visit the eMHPrac team at their trade exhibit.

Workplace Mental Health Symposium

7-8 September 2023, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast QLD

Presentation and Trade exhibit

Learn ground-breaking strategies, save time and money, and have your team inspired by the experts at the Workplace Mental Health Symposium.

See eMHPrac Director Heidi Sturk present and visit the eMHPrac team at their trade exhibit.

Digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Lee, S., Oh, J. W., Park, K. M., Lee, S., & Lee, E. (2023). Digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. npj Digital Medicine, 6(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00800-3

Smartphone Psychological Therapy During COVID-19: A Study on the Effectiveness of Five Popular Mental Health Apps for Anxiety and Depression

Marshall, J. M., Dunstan, D. A., & Bartik, W. (2021). Smartphone psychological therapy during COVID-19: A study on the effectiveness of five popular mental health apps for anxiety and depression. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 775775. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.775775

Evaluation of the Use of Digital Mental Health Platforms and Interventions: Scoping Review

Balcombe, L., & De Leo, D. (2023). Evaluation of the Use of Digital Mental Health Platforms and Interventions: Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 362. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010362

QLife

About QLife

QLife is Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people of diverse sex, genders and sexualities. The service provides early intervention and peer based support for LGBTQIA+ people via:

• A national 1800 telephone counselling service
• National web-based counselling
• A national referral database of LGBTQIA+ specialist services.
• A range of resources for health professionals working with people from the LGBTQIA+ community

Who is QLife for?

Qlife focuses on peer supported telephone and web based services to diverse people of all ages experiencing poor mental health, psychological distress, social isolation, discrimination, experiences of being misgendered and/or other social determinants that impact their health and wellbeing.

QLife is often the first point of contact for people who are coming out, but it is available to anyone, no matter how they identify.

The service is also increasingly being used by the friends and family of LGBTQIA+ people and mainstream service providers who are seeking accurate information and referral options for their relatives, friends or clients.

Is there a cost to use QLife?

There is no cost to use QLife.

How to access QLife

Qlife’s services are available 7 days a week from 3pm to midnight.

Access the QLife website here
Access phone support by calling 1800 184 527
Register for Webchat here