Mental health therapy a click away

Health / Cassie Maher Progress Leader News http://progress-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/head-start-for-help/

MILLIONS of Australians affected by anxiety disorders could benefit from a world-first at Hawthorn's Swinburne University.

A groundbreaking program offers free online psychological assessments, diagnoses, referrals and educational information on conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Swinburne's National eTherapy Centre co-director, associate professor David Austin, said it was the first full-service online psychology clinic in the world.

Dr Austin said other treatment internet programs were self-funded or linked the user to a face-to-face therapist, which many people weren't comfortable with.

"It helps people avoid the social stigma associated with many anxiety disorders," he said.

"We expect the service to be used by a high proportion of people from remote and regional Australia who don't have a choice in regards to accessing face-to-face psych services because they simply don't exist."

Dr Austin said after an initial assessment, users could access a free, 12-week, self-directed program based on their diagnosed disorder. Trained eTherapists could later be accessed for $120 for 12 weekly email sessions.

Anna Kouloubos, co-ordinator of Kew-based Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria, welcomed the program.

"We always get calls from people in the country who can't access proper mental health doctors or cannot afford to go to a psychologist,"Ms Kouloubos said.

"It will also give people an alternative to going to a general practitioner - some of whom give out prescriptions too easily and people can become addicted to medication they don't need."

But Burwood East psychologist Sally-Anne McCormack, who has run her own paid-for online program for four years, said while it was a "great service", visiting a psychologist in person was a better option.

The program was set up as part of a $1.55 million Federal Government grant to establish the National e-Therapy Centre.

To access the website visit: anxietyonline.org.au