ALMOST half of all Australians will experience mental health problems in their lifetime.
Recent floods, droughts, cyclones, bushfires and the Covid pandemic have increased distress in the community.
Yet many people who need mental health services are unable to access them. Cost, stigma and availability of mental health workers are barriers to care.
Australia also has a critical shortage of mental health workers. And by 2030, it’s predicted we will be missing 42 per cent of the mental health workforce needed to meet the demand.
To partially address this gap, the Australian Government has committed to investing $A135 million in digital mental health programs if re-elected.
Online mental health programs can be more innovative and less expensive than other types of therapy. But do they actually work? Let’s assess the evidence.
WHAT ARE DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES?
Digital mental health services vary widely. They include online or app-based mental health information, symptom tracking tools, and learning or skills programs.
These tools can be accessed with or without support from a therapist or coach, with some using generative generative artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
The umbrella term “digital mental health services” also includes peer-support networks, phone helplines and human-delivered phone, chat, or video-based telehealth services.
DO THEY WORK?
A 2020 review of the evidence found almost half the people who used online programs for common mental health conditions benefited.
This review included online programs with self-directed lessons or modules to reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety.
These programs were as effective as face-to-face therapy, but face-to-face therapy required on average 7.8 times more therapist time than online programs.
The evidence for other types of digital mental health programs is still developing.
The evidence for smartphone apps targeting mental health symptoms, for example, is mixed.
While some studies have reported mental health benefits from the use of such apps, others have reported no differences in symptoms.
Researchers suggest these apps should be used with other mental health supports rather than as standalone interventions.
Similarly, while AI chatbots have received recent attention, there is uncertainty about the safety and effectiveness of these tools as a substitute for therapy.
Chatbots, such as the AI “Woebot” for depression, can give users personalised guidance and support to learn therapeutic techniques.
But while chatbots may have the potential to improve mental health, the results are largely inconclusive to date.
DO USERS LIKE THEM?
Users have reported many benefits to digital mental health services. People find them convenient, accessible, private and affordable, and are often highly satisfied with them.
Digital services are designed to directly address some of the major barriers to treatment access and have the potential to reach the significant numbers of people who go online for mental health information.
Digital supports can also be used in a “stepped care” approach to treating mental health problems.
Authors: Bonnie Clough, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University; Aarthi Ganapathy, Edith Cowan University; Lou Farrer, Australian National University.
Source: Theconversation.com
