Using Online Tools in Suicide Prevention

This Webinar

The prevalence of suicide in the Australian population is not diminishing, in fact in the last few years we have seen a disturbing increase in prevalence in some age groups and communities.

Research results suggest that thinking of suicide prevention as a wholly medical problem is not effective. Optimising mental health care and service delivery is only part of the solution. Other important factors known to reduce suicide in communities include improving mental health knowledge and literacy across the community and the early learning of skills and strategies to improve resilience.

Considerable work has been undertaken to develop online tools and resources that are potentially helpful in keeping people safe from suicide. Our special guest on this webinar is Dr Fiona Shand, a senior researcher at Black Dog Institute, whose research focuses on suicide prevention, including e-health interventions to prevent suicide, care after a suicide attempt and multi-level community-wide models of suicide prevention. 

Our GP panelist is Dr Caroline Johnson from Melbourne who brings her extensive experience of mental health issues in primary care to the discussion.

To participate in this webinar, it would be useful for participants  to have some level of familiarity with e-Mental Health. This can be gained by:

• watching a previously delivered live webinar
• watching an on-demand recording of a previously delivered webinar http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/healthprofessionals/gps/eMHPracWebinars.cfm
• reading the article ‘e-mental Health for mood and anxiety disorders in general practice’, published in AFP http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2014/december/e-mental-health-for-mood-and-anxiety-disorders-in-general-practice/
• reading the article ‘e-Mental Health – What is it and why do we need it?’, published on FOAM4GP http://foam4gp.com/2015/04/15/e-mental-health-what-is-it-and-why-do-we-need-it/

The Webinar Series

The webinar series examines some of the online mental health treatment programs that GPs need to know about, focusing on evidence-based programs that have been developed in Australia. The evidence around the efficacy and usefulness of different programs will be discussed along with practical aspects of using the programs.

Summary:

• e-Mental Health programs are a useful adjunct to mental health treatment in primary care
• there is good evidence that patient outcomes improve with the use of e-Mental Health programs
• a variety of locally-developed e-Mental Health programs are available
• GPs need to be familiar with the programs their patients are using and be able to recommend the use of these programs appropriately.

Audience

GPs and GP registrars who are interested in improving outcomes for patients with mental health conditions.

CPD Information

Participants in each webinar are eligible for 2 QI&CPD Points and 2 Core ACRRM points