Overcoming Barriers when Recommending Digital Resources to Rural Clients
Tracks
Mossman - In-Person
| Thursday, November 7, 2024 |
| 2:45 PM - 3:05 PM |
| Mossman Ballroom |
Overview
Heidi Sturk, eMHPrac, QUT
Presenter
Heidi Sturk
Director, E-mental Health In Practice
eMHPrac, Queensland University of Technology
Overcoming Barriers when Recommending Digital Resources to Rural Clients
Abstract
The growing use of digital mental health services and tools by rural Australians highlights the value of these options in facilitating access to mental health and wellbeing support in rural and remote settings. These digital services 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 need and provide treatment for those on waiting lists.
However despite these benefits, many rural health practitioners feel unsure of how to best utilise digital resources in their clinical practice. This presentation by eMHPrac will provide guidance about how to select a digital intervention or tool for a rural patient or client, how to recommend these in a safe and supportive way, and how to overcome any barriers to their use in rural settings.
The e-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac) program provides free training on evidence-based digital mental health to rural health practitioners nationwide. This consortium, funded by the 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. eMHPrac has been operating for over 11 years and is experienced at providing impartial advice on digital mental health.
By addressing these barriers, the eMHPrac program ensures that rural health practitioners can harness the full potential of digital resources to improve mental health outcomes for their patients and clients, thus expanding access to quality mental healthcare across Australia's diverse and often underserved regions.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. Knowledge about how to select free/low-cost evidence-based digital services appropriate for rural patients/clients
2. Knowledge about how to suggest a digital option in a safe and supportive way
3. Understanding of how to overcome barriers when recommending or using digital mental health in rural settings.
However despite these benefits, many rural health practitioners feel unsure of how to best utilise digital resources in their clinical practice. This presentation by eMHPrac will provide guidance about how to select a digital intervention or tool for a rural patient or client, how to recommend these in a safe and supportive way, and how to overcome any barriers to their use in rural settings.
The e-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac) program provides free training on evidence-based digital mental health to rural health practitioners nationwide. This consortium, funded by the 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. eMHPrac has been operating for over 11 years and is experienced at providing impartial advice on digital mental health.
By addressing these barriers, the eMHPrac program ensures that rural health practitioners can harness the full potential of digital resources to improve mental health outcomes for their patients and clients, thus expanding access to quality mental healthcare across Australia's diverse and often underserved regions.
Presentation Key Learnings
1. Knowledge about how to select free/low-cost evidence-based digital services appropriate for rural patients/clients
2. Knowledge about how to suggest a digital option in a safe and supportive way
3. Understanding of how to overcome barriers when recommending or using digital mental health in rural settings.
Biography
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 Australian health practitioners and service providers. She holds a Master of Organisational Psychology and has extensive experience in applied mental health research and workforce training. Heidi also serves on multiple government advisory committees. She is passionate about educating others how to safely utilise technology for mental health treatment, support and connection.
