Abstract
Background: Improving suicide prevention outcomes is a key priority of national and state government health policies in Australia. The mental health sector is currently facing increasing demand for services that is exceeding capacity, especially in view of the widespread negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Electronic Mental Health (eMH) tools are increasingly becoming available that can be used by mental health professionals to augment traditional face-to-face care. These tools are digital resources delivered remotely via online or mobile technologies with the potential to allow consumers greater access to suicide prevention services. Yet despite growing evidence supporting the efficacy of eMH for suicide prevention, uptake into professional practice is reportedly low, and information regarding the use and integration of these tools into practice remains limited.
Target Population: The study was carried out amongst mental health professionals of the New South Wales (NSW) public mental health service who provide healthcare support for individuals at risk of suicide.
Involvement and Engagement: An online survey was co-designed in consultation with clinicians, peer workers and other key stakeholders, including an Indigenous scholar. Implementation of the survey was carried out in collaboration with suicide prevention managers from each of the 15 local health districts in NSW, who distributed the recruitment invitations across the state.
Initiative: The survey was developed to assess mental health professionals' usage of eMH tools for suicide prevention as part of their care for consumers. Over 10,000 mental health professionals were invited to participate, with more than 600 participants responding to the survey. Survey recruitment and data collection took place from mid-2022 until finalisation in July 2023.
Results and Impact: Preliminary findings indicate that nearly half (46%) of the participants regularly use eMH tools for suicide prevention on a weekly or daily basis. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a shift toward remote care, with a decrease in face-to-face services (from 78% pre-COVID to 66% currently) and an increase in distance delivery modes, particularly video consultations (from 3% to 11%). Age and gender were identified as factors influencing uptake, with older and male professionals showing lower adoption rates. Barriers to uptake included a perceived lack of training, support, and experience using eMH.
Learning for the International Audience: The study found that almost half of the mental health professionals surveyed regularly use eMH tools for suicide prevention, which is contrary to previous reports of low uptake. It highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the accelerated adoption of remote care. It also points out that addressing barriers to uptake, like adequate training and support, is crucial for the broader integration of eMH tools into practice, especially among older and male professionals.
Next Steps: Future research should focus on developing tailored interventions to address these barriers, aiming for better integration of eMH tools for suicide prevention into professional practice. This would enhance the quality of care, improve consumer experiences, and could ultimately improve outcomes in suicide prevention.