Australia is getting a new digital mental health service. Will it help? Here’s what the evidence says

June 3, 2024
UNSW Sydney

It sounds good in theory, but it doesn’t always work in practice. Here’s what the evidence from the UK and elsewhere shows so far.

In this year’s budget, the federal government announced one of the biggest changes to the mental health system in nearly two decades: a digital early intervention service to relieve Australians’ early psychological distress before it builds into mental illness.

Starting in 2026, and based on the United Kingdom’s Talking Therapies model, the service is expected to offer a combination of apps, websites and free telehealth therapy sessions that deliver a type of cognitive behavioural therapy called “low-intensity psychological interventions”.

Read more: Australia is getting a new digital mental health service. Will it help? Here’s what the evidence says (unsw.edu.au)