Youth Reach Out for Mental Health Help Online
Young people in distress are more likely to look for mental health help online rather than seek help from a professional, a study has found. A national survey conducted by youth mental health organisation Inspire Foundation, questioned more than 3000 people under 25 years of age. It found 75 per cent of participants were experiencing [...]
Online chat offers new help for suicide prevention
A NEW service which uses online chat to prevent suicides is providing support to people in distress who are unwilling to use telephone counselling services. Launching Lifeline’s Online Crisis Support Chat service yesterday, the Federal Minister for Mental Health, Mark Butler, said the service would be of great benefit to men and younger people, who [...]
Counselling for free – at home
Free and convenient … online initiative makes psychological support more accessible. The evils of the internet tend to get good coverage. There are, of course, plenty of wonders as well. A new free online initiative by the Black Dog Institute is one of these. Launched last Monday, myCompass is a free online self-help service that [...]
Website to help Aussies manage anxiety
As more Australians turn to the internet for medical help, a new federally-funded website is offering tools and tips to those battling anxiety and depression. The interactive self-help website – mycompass.org.au – was launched by the Black Dog Institute and the federal government on Monday. The developer, Professor Judy Proudfoot, says it’s designed to help [...]
Mental health help goes online
For years the advice has been to avoid consulting Dr Google for any medical concerns but new Australian research is showing online programs have marked benefits for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems. The leading mental health group the Black Dog Institute and the federal government will launch a new online self-help service [...]
ED patients prefer technology-based interventions for high-risk behaviors
A Rhode Island Hospital researcher has found that emergency department patients prefer technology-based interventions for high-risk behaviors such as alcohol use, unsafe sex and violence. ER patients said they would choose technology (ie text messaging, email, or Internet) over traditional intervention methods such as in-person or brochure-based behavioral interventions. The paper by Megan L. Ranney, [...]
Online therapy now available to help beat the blues
Places are still available in an innovative online therapy program that helps people beat symptoms of stress, worry and low mood. Presented by a team of psychologists who work at the University’s eCentreClinic, the Wellbeing Course provides guidance on simple but effective techniques that help people gain better control over their symptoms, improve their confidence [...]
Computer Use Combined with Exercise May Protect Memory
Sitting in front of a computer screen may seem like inactivity, but it could be giving your brain a workout.It may even help protect your brain from cognitive decline, Mayo Clinic researchers say. In a new study, the researchers found that people who reported using the computer and participating in moderate physical activity — like [...]
Study: Playing a Video Game Helps Teens Beat Depression
Video games are more often regarded as causes of mental illness than as cures, but in a new study, a specially designed fantasy game helped teens conquer depression just as well as — if not better than — usual counseling. Depression can be devastating among youths, yet fewer than 1 in 5 depressed teens are [...]
Eating disorders online help for families, teachers
A new online resource will provide eastern families with the latest information about eating disorders. The website at nedc.com.au was launched this week by federal Mental Health Minister Mark Butler. Mr Butler said the online resource was a strong collection of helpful material, designed to meet the needs of parents, teachers and health professionals, and [...]
