The Australian Government is delivering high-quality free digital mental health supports for all Australians, including new parents, younger Australians, LGBTIQA+ people and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
A $135.2 million investment into the Digital Mental Health Program, will see 12 leading mental health services provide Australians access to digital and online mental health support at a time and place that suits them.
Programs include a first-of-its-kind Australian digital mental health service for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The program is being delivered by St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney through its THIS WAY UP CALD program.
The investment is also supporting new fathers who are experiencing depression. The DadBooster national online treatment program mirrors best-practice cognitive behavioural therapy to meet the needs of postnatal men.
For the first time, all funded services are accredited against the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards. This aims to improve the quality of digital mental health services offerings.
This investment is part of the government's commitment to a whole-of-system approach to mental health reform.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"Every Australian deserves access to mental health care and support at a time and place that suits them.
"That's why we are expanding the range and reach of free high-quality digital mental health supports
"Mainstream services don't work for everyone, and this $135 million investment will deliver more mental health care, more fairly and more efficiently to the people who need it."
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
"The Albanese Labor Government is making sure mental health support is more accessible no matter where you live.
"Our significant investment will deliver high-quality free digital mental health supports for people from the city to the bush.
"We're strengthening Medicare by deliver better mental health services."
Successful grant applicants:
- Blue Knot Foundation: Blue Knot Helpline
- Butterfly Foundation: Butterfly National Helpline
- E-Hub Health Pty Ltd: e-hub Web Service
- headspace: eheadspace
- LGBTIQ+ Health Australia: QLife
- MQ Health Pty Limited: MindSpot
- Orygen: MOST
- PANDA: PANDA National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline
- Parent-Infant Research Institute: MumMoodBooster and DadBooster
- ReachOut Australia: ReachOut
- SANE Australia: SANE's Guided Recovery Community for Complex Mental Health
- St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney Limited: THIS WAY UP's clinician-supported service, CALD community targeted service, and self-help service.
