The rise of digital mental health services has revolutionized the delivery of mental health care, particularly benefiting people living in rural and remote areas of Australia. These services play a vital role in providing information, prevention strategies, assessments, diagnoses, counselling, and treatment. They also complement face-to-face therapies, enabling care providers to focus on complex cases, addressing waitlists, and flexibly respond to increased demand.

While commendable efforts are being made to promote the digital transformation of mental health care and enhance accessibility and effectiveness, the crucial aspect of human connection remains indispensable in the realm of mental health support. Can digital alternatives truly foster this connection? At times, digital mental health may appear impersonal, but it doesn’t have to be. Just as we successfully employ technology in various aspects of our lives, we can harness its potential to support mental health as well.

The significance of human connection for well-being and mental health is well-established. Digital mental health services leverage technology to facilitate connection, forming an integral part of evidence-based mental health support options. Many of these services emphasize a strong human connection, such as online counselling services, moderated forums, help lines and online programs guided by practitioners. Moreover, numerous self-guided programs and apps promote connection with others and can supplement broader wellbeing or treatment plans.

This presentation will delve into the importance of human connection in mental health care and explore which Australian digital mental health services offer free support from health practitioners and peer workers. It will also provide insight into services and resources which can be used by other practitioners or support people. By examining the potential of digital mental health services to foster connection, we can better understand how technology can be used to improve mental health outcomes.