Innovative Service to ease the mental burden for rural Australians

Sydney

19 Apr 2016

This Way Up, an online mental health service of St Vincent’s Hospital and UNSW,offers hope to rural Australians experiencing anxiety and depression. This Way Up have recently developed a suite of smartphone applications, giving the majority of Australians portable access to proven and effective anxiety and depression treatments.

Based on the effective Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model, the apps provide users with illustrated lessons, progress trackers, self-led learning, and additional resources that can be completed in their own time. For those who finish a course, 80% show significant improvement, of which, 50% report no longer being troubled by depression or anxiety.

For the 33% of the population who are currently living in regional or remote parts of Australia, access to good mental health care can be difficult and costly. As a consequence, rural and remote Australians often experience worse mental health outcomes than those living in the major cities.

In line with St Vincents’ mission to provide equitable health care for all, these app based treatments are designed to assist patients in areas where it can be difficult to access support and care.

“There is a growing need for mental health education and treatment in all sectors of Australian society, but especially so in rural areas”, says Professor Gavin Andrews, director and creator of This Way Up. “One of the great benefits of our courses is that they can be undertaken by anyone with internet access, including those in remote locations”.

Due to increasing research and technological expansion, internet delivered mental health programs are beginning to reduce the rising burden of mental health issues. 79% of those living in remote or very remote parts of Australia now have access to the internet, and are more likely than those in capital cities to only access the internet on their mobile phones. This makes app-based and web-based programs an increasingly viable alternative to face-to-face care.

About This Way Up

This Way Up is a non-for-profit initiative of St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney and UNSW that provides a range of online programs for anxiety and depression. These programs have been extensively researched, tested, and proven to work in over 26 studies and real world settings. Over the last 7 years, This Way Up programs have helped over 8000 people reduce their symptoms of anxiety and depression.

For more information please visit www.thiswayup.org.au

For more information contact Nikki Potent on 8382 2132 or leave a message in the form below.