originally posted on 24-04-2020 1:26 PM

1.What are some of the online mental health supports you know of?

They've all pretty much been mentioned hahaa

2. How can different online supports help with mental health (e.g. forums, online chat, video call, self-help modules) and how can you find the best one for you?

They all offer something deliciously different, and even the same kind of support can focus on different things (eg. the Beyond Blue forum is more focussed on addressing heavy topics and providing specific advice more than this forum is). In fact, using forums like this one can help navigate the plethora of mental health supports, as you can have a conversation and ask people exactly what you need!

3. What can be some benefits of online mental health supports, rather than face-to-face?

Accessibility, anywhere, anytime! That about sums it up for me I think.

Have you accessed telehealth or online mental health services (either now or before COVID-19), how did you find them and what tips do you have for other users?

Not personally, I have asked for general life advice on here and other forums though...maybe that counts? I was aware of them through volunteering- use your network to help you find these places, as these people know you can help you meet your needs!

Do you have any concerns about accessing telehealth appointments at home, eg concerns to do with privacy? How do you think we can manage these?

Well, I'm hoping to become a psychologist...so I think learning how to professionally mitigate these concerns in a consistent and safe way is the best thing as someone who may use these channels to provide a service.

How do you feel after this chat about accessing mental health services online or via telehealth (video, phone)? 

Great! It's always nice to know what other consumers of these services think, it's so enriching in a way that a classroom can lack sometimes.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 7:44 PM

@Bee and @WheresMySquishy i'm so glad you mentioned apps! I completely forgot about them as well! 😄 

originally posted on 23-04-2020 7:55 PM

Next question! 😄 

 

How can different online supports help with mental health (e.g. forums, online chat, video call, self-help modules) and how can you find the best one for you?

 

 

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:08 PM

How can different online supports help with mental health (e.g. forums, online chat, video call, self-help modules) and how can you find the best one for you?

 

I guess different forms of online services can help you find a way of receiving support that is comfortable and works for you.

Some benefits of telephoning and online chat mean that you don't have to see someone face to face if you don't want to, and video chats mean that you can have that face to face contact without having to go anywhere. Forums are really good if you're looking for support or advice from people who've experienced similar things, and are mostly anonymous! 
I think self-help modules are also really good because they're things you can do in your own time and at your own pace. They are also a really good first step if you're unsure about confiding in someone else 🙂

As to finding the best one, I agree with @WheresMySquishy about making sure apps and self-help modules are evidence based! Beyond that I guess it can be a bit of trial and error to find one that fits for you i guess? What does everyone else think?

EDIT: I didn't see your answer @Bee , i think that expresses it perfectly! 😄 

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:11 PM

@ecla34  I think it can be a bit of a trial and error process too. I've personally found that some types of virtual therapies (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) are more suited to different kinds of things that I am experiencing. Some of them also go by different principles. I have personally found that mindfulness and meditations are more helpful for when I have pain.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:13 PM

@WheresMySquishy ahh that's a super good point too! Different types of support work for different situations for the same person as well as for different people! 

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:06 PM

How can different online supports help (e.g. forums, online chat, video call, self-help modules) and how can you find the best one for you?

Each support has its own type of help they can offer, self-help modules can give you information and an idea on what you can try, whereas an online or video chat with a mental health professional can support you in doing these self-help activities, and offer some personalized advice. Forums and online chat with peers can also be beneficial in providing support and comfort in knowing that other people understand and can relate to your experiences.

In terms of finding the best for you, I think it comes down to your preferences and what works for you, as what works for me could be totally different to what works for you. I think the key is to try it and evaluate how you feel about it after and see if it is something you'd do again. 🙂

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:20 PM

What can be some benefits of online mental health supports, rather than face-to-face?

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:31 PM

What can be some benefits of online mental health supports, rather than face-to-face?
For me, the main benefit of them has been able to talk to someone or access help in a quicker timeframe than seeing someone face-to-face. Some online support services are available at any or all times of the day. They can also be helpful if you feel as though you need support more often than once a week or fortnightly appointments, and for help in between appointments. If you don't have a lot of time to travel to face-to-face supports, they may allow you to access support or therapies that you can have at your own time and pace. I have heard that they can also help people who are uncomfortable about seeing someone face-to-face, and they can be good if you want to try out a support, exercise or self-help practice before committing to regular appointments, particularly as a lot of online services are free. Some apps (e.g., Wysa, Woebot, Replika, Youper and InnerHour) also offer a virtual assistant you can chat to if you don't feel like confiding in a real person, such as if you feel as though you'll be judged. Here is a review of some of them. Online services can also help reach people in remote areas, people with disabilities who are unable to leave their house without assistance, or people in self-isolation.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:31 PM

What can be some benefits of online mental health supports, rather than face-to-face?

 

I guess a big bonus is that it cuts down on commute for people looking for mental health support, particularly if they live in remote areas. It can also lessen any nerves/intimidation for people who are a bit wary of sitting in front of someone to talk! 

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:03 PM

How can different online supports help with mental health (e.g. forums, online chat, video call, self-help modules) and how can you find the best one for you?
I think that they can all offer benefits in their own way and that it really depends on what kind of support you need at the time. I've found that online chats are more suited to immediate help rather than forums and telehealth sessions. For some of the self-help modules I've tried, you have to commit to doing the exercises over a long period of time, so you have to have the time and be able to commit to them. They're not so good if you feel as though you need a supportive person such as a psychologist to guide you through them, but you can do them at any time rather than having to make an appointment. Peer support forums and online chats with people with lived experience of mental health issues can also inspire hope by hearing about how other people have recovered.
The Black Dog Institute has a helpful article about how to find a good mental health app. I think it raises an important point about looking for apps and tools that are evidence-based. There are also websites which rate mental health apps and provide an assessment of their transparency and credibility.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:31 PM

How can different online supports help with mental health (e.g. forums, online chat, video call, self-help modules) and how can you find the best one for you?

I feel like forums are great when you want to learn to support people and to also relate with other people going through the same thing, you make amazeballs friends, you can use the space to hang out and soooo much more. Chats make me feel more comfortable as I don’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing because you can read over it before you send it so for me it’s less stressful. Phone and video calls I guess I just use when I have a lot to talk about because you get more in as you just talk instead of typing everything but I find it hard to talk about my problems out loud so I don’t often use phone or video calls. I use self help when I want to work on my independence instead of relying on others to help me and it feels nice when you find something that helps on your own 🙂 I also like emails although they take a while to get a response, they’re good for people with a busy schedule as you don’t take up to an hour at a time to get support, it’s more spread out. In person support is great because you can actually see who you are talking to and see their facial expressions if that makes sense? It’s also usually a nice comforting environment to be in.
I personally prefer forums and web chats 🙂 this is mostly due to my anxiety with actually having to talk..
I guess to find which one is best to you is to try them all.. that’s what I done. If you don’t want to do that though, you can look into what each of them are about and how they work to see what stands out 🙂

Sorry if these aren’t really the answer you guys were looking for

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:38 PM

Have you accessed telehealth or online mental health services (either now or before COVID-19), how did you find them and what tips do you have for other users?



This gif sums up some of my most recent experiences hahaha.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:50 PM

Have you accessed telehealth or online mental health services (either now or before COVID-19), how did you find them and what tips do you have for other users?
I accessed online chats and apps several times before COVID-19, and now I help my sister access telehealth psychology appointments. I've found that the experience tends to differ depending on which service we have used. I have personally had good experiences with free online support services, forums, self-help modules and apps. However, we have experienced a lot of technical problems with the particular video chat service her team is using to communicate with us at home, but not with the one her private psychologist is using (Zoom). Sometimes, you can look up to see if the service is experiencing technical difficulties or is unavailable in advance. It's also a good idea to do a 'test run' of a service before using it for the first time if you can, so that you can get familiar with the interface and see if it will work on your device. It can be easy to forget that you have an online appointment or when a support person is available, so I write this information down. Another tip I have is to look at videos of the apps or ratings on websites such as Beacon in advance. Some apps have also been the subject of studies, so it's a good idea to look at the results of the research and quality of the studies. You don't want to waste your time on something that isn't evidence-based or right for you. There can also be wait times to access an online counsellor or active listener, so have things ready to do while you wait.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 8:54 PM

@WheresMySquishy wow I really like those tips! that's such a super organised and practical way of making sure you get the most out of online support services! 

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:00 PM

@ecla34  Another good tip I've discovered is to have the phone number or contact details of the place your psychologist/professional works in case they don't come online at the same time as you. Once, we were waiting for some people from my sister's hospital to join an online meeting, only for them to not show up. We ended up getting a call from a receptionist saying that they weren't at work and forgot to tell us! We were so annoyed.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:15 PM

Love the gif @ecla34!

Do you have any concerns about accessing telehealth appointments at home, eg concerns to do with privacy? How do you think we can manage these?
Privacy is a big concern for me. Some services have policies about how they manage or use your data and whether your chat or details are confidential, so it can be worth having a read of them. There may also be options to opt out of sending some of your data to them. Different chat services also have different levels of encryption and security, which you can find more information about online. It can be a good idea to look up if user accounts and data have been compromised before. Another thing to consider is where your psychologist or professional will be conducting the chat. For example, could there be a possibility that other people may overhear the conversation?
Another disadvantage of online-based apps and services is that some assessments may be more difficult to do, such as ones which require you to do physical tasks, interact with objects and do things in a set amount of time. For services where you don't get to see each other's face or hear someone's voice, it can sometimes be hard to gauge emotions and possibly tone of voice.

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:30 PM

Do you have any concerns about accessing telehealth appointments at home, eg concerns to do with privacy? How do you think we can manage these?

 

I am really concerned about being overheard! That being said, I do trust my housemates not to deliberately listen, the way I don't listen to their appointments. But it's still concerning to me. 😕
I'm sorry that there's the possibility of family listening in @Bee that's so upsetting 😞

Another privacy concern with phone calls and video calls is on the other end of things.

This is more me overthinking things though! Not something I think would actually happen!

But that being said, a small part of me worries that someone will overhear on their end, that there'll be someone else in the room, or i'll be on speaker, or even that it could be recorded 😕 again, very very very very unlikely, but it's something that concerns me. I also worry that because I can't see someone's face, that they might be rolling their eyes or look bored or something. 
But i think that these are not super realistic, so they're worries I can challenge 🙂


Thanks @Bee and @WheresMySquishy ! I get a bit confused about what counts as telehealth @Bananatime04 , not gonna lie!

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:33 PM

@ecla34 they are valid worries. In every telehealth appointment, I've had it's been in a similar setting to their usual office, so the psychologist was in her office at her workplace and the same with the psychiatrist. As for it being recorded, wouldn't they have to tell you if they are recording you?

Yeah my family can be nosey at times, but I deal (shrug)

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:38 PM

@Bee yep they totally would! Definitely not a realistic worry of mine haha
I just heard that some services aren't using certain video apps because of security issues and I was like.....oh noes 😞
good definition for Telehealth, all the ones i was googling were...less than clear

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:42 PM

@ecla34 it's okay to unrealistic worries 🙂
Oh I hadn't heard that, but I haven't been watching the news or anything. For me personally, I trust the places where I've used online services, so with my psychologist, I have full trust that she would use the most confidential service she could, and the same with my doctor's surgery. In saying this though, there is no reason why anyone should feel like they want more information about the system a place uses for online/telehealth appointments

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:42 PM

Anyway if that’s all the questions I want to say thank you to @Hozzles for tagging me at the start and thank you to @WheresMySquishy @ecla34 and @Bee for making me feel so welcome! I had great fun talking with you guys tonight and also liked the gifs

How often do these chats happen?

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:44 PM

@Bananatime04  Thanks so much for joining us! I loved reading your responses. 🙂
These live GRs tend to happen about once a month. They usually happen on Mondays but we had to reschedule this one to Thursday because we had an AMAA on Monday.
You can find when they are on here. 

originally posted on 23-04-2020 9:49 PM

@Bee wow!!!!! that's so cool thanks for putting that together!!

@Bananatime04 we had a live chat with one of our senior mods @Asche about youth advocacy for mental health (and advocacy in general)! It was super cool to hear about his experiences! 😄