Using technology
to bring services to
people
Alan is 19 years old and six months ago started to feel worried that something bad would happen in his life. He had trouble sleeping, experienced headaches and stopped attending university.
He doesn't want to talk about it with his friends or local doctor, so he uses the internet and accesses the new e‑mental health portal where he is provided with some self‑help therapies appropriate for this condition.
By utilising this service Alan learns how to control his anxiety, builds greater confidence and understanding of his condition and is able to return to classes.
Investing in technology
The Government believes in using technology to help people access mental health services as evidence shows that online and telephone based therapy can be an effective way of treating people with mental illness, particularly those with common mental illnesses.
Investments have already been made in telephone and web‑based support services, such as establishing the National Health Call Centre Network, and boosting funding for online mental health and counselling services, as part of its action to tackle suicide. New investments in telehealth consultations via the internet, including new rebate arrangements under the Medicare Benefits Schedule for e‑consults, will also provide patients in remote, regional and outer metropolitan Australia better access to specialists. These investments will be enhanced by the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Establishing a national e‑mental health portal
The Government is investing $14 million over five years to make it easier for people with mental illness to access information and services by developing a single national e‑mental health portal.
The e‑mental health portal will consolidate existing but often scattered websites and telephone services to enable people to access a range of online or telephone‑based services through a virtual clinic.
It will help over 45,000 additional people to receive treatment to stay well and to maintain their daily activities. In particular, it will benefit those people:
- having difficulty accessing face to face services, including rural and regional Australians; and
- wishing to receive information and assistance anonymously.