Exploring Digital Options for Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention
Tracks
Springbrook Room - In Person Only
| Tuesday, March 19, 2024 |
| 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM |
| Springbrook Room |
Overview
Heidi Sturk, eMHPrac (e-Mental Health in Practice), QUT
Speaker
Ms Heidi Sturk
Director
eMHPrac (e-Mental Health in Practice), QUT
Exploring Digital Options for Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention
Abstract
The growing use of digital mental health resources by young people highlights the value of these options in facilitating access to mental health and wellbeing support. These digital resources can serve a wide array of functions including information dissemination, prevention, assessment, diagnosis, counselling, and treatment. They can also complement face-to-face therapies, free up care providers to assist those with more complex needs, provide treatment for those on waiting lists, and flexibly respond to increased demand.
Given the increased awareness among young people, many child and youth practitioners are seeking guidance on how to introduce digital mental health to their young clients and how to integrate digital resources into their practice. There is good evidence for the use of evidence-based digital mental health options for young people as standalone resources or as an accompaniment to traditional therapy, and there are excellent resources in Australia that can be used for prevention and early intervention work with young people.
The e-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac) program is currently spearheading the training of health practitioners in evidence-based digital mental health options. This consortium, funded by Australian Government, is led by Queensland University of Technology in partnership with Black Dog Institute, Menzies School of Health Research and the University Centre for Rural Health (North Coast), University of Sydney.
This presentation will offer insights into the eMHPrac's training and support activities, illustrating how practitioners can access and implement free or affordable digital mental health solutions for the preventative and early intervention care of young individuals. A case study scenario will be provided and will include resources which provide quick strategies, skills and coping techniques.
Learning Outcomes:
1. An understanding of eMHPrac’s nationwide training work with health practitioners
2. Knowledge about specific digital mental health services appropriate for children and adolescents.
3. Knowledge about how to utilise digital options for prevention and early intervention.
Given the increased awareness among young people, many child and youth practitioners are seeking guidance on how to introduce digital mental health to their young clients and how to integrate digital resources into their practice. There is good evidence for the use of evidence-based digital mental health options for young people as standalone resources or as an accompaniment to traditional therapy, and there are excellent resources in Australia that can be used for prevention and early intervention work with young people.
The e-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac) program is currently spearheading the training of health practitioners in evidence-based digital mental health options. This consortium, funded by Australian Government, is led by Queensland University of Technology in partnership with Black Dog Institute, Menzies School of Health Research and the University Centre for Rural Health (North Coast), University of Sydney.
This presentation will offer insights into the eMHPrac's training and support activities, illustrating how practitioners can access and implement free or affordable digital mental health solutions for the preventative and early intervention care of young individuals. A case study scenario will be provided and will include resources which provide quick strategies, skills and coping techniques.
Learning Outcomes:
1. An understanding of eMHPrac’s nationwide training work with health practitioners
2. Knowledge about specific digital mental health services appropriate for children and adolescents.
3. Knowledge about how to utilise digital options for prevention and early intervention.
Biography
Heidi Sturk is the Director of eMHPrac (e-Mental Health in Practice) at Queensland University of Technology and trains health professionals about digital mental health.
Heidi Sturk is the Director of eMHPrac (e-Mental Health in Practice) at Queensland University of Technology. Heidi oversees the development, delivery and evaluation of training and support on digital mental health to health practitioners and service providers nationwide. She participates in co-design work with Indigenous colleagues for all eMHPrac work with First Nations people. She holds a Master of Organisational Psychology and has over 28 years’ experience working in applied mental health research and workforce training. Heidi is a committee member of the Australian Government’s Digital Mental Health Advisory Group for the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.
