Going Online Together: The Potential for Mental Health Workers to Integrate Recovery Oriented E-Mental Health Resources Into Their Practice

Abstract

Background: The Internet offers a growing range of e-mental health resources for people experiencing severe mental illness. How these resources may be used in face-to-face interactions with consumers in mental health practice is not well understood. Aim: This article explores mental health workers’ current use of online resources and their views about integrating e-mental health resources for promoting self-management and recovery into community-based practice. Method: A total of 37 mental health workers from six services attended focus groups to discuss their views about using online and e-mental health resources in face-to-face interactions with consumers. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants described accessing Internet information but having little opportunity to use online resources with consumers. Limited access to mobile technology and perceptions that consumers lacked technological experience constrained current use. Three approaches to using e-mental health resources were perceived: directing, collaborating, and empowering. Access to mobile technology within worker–consumer interactions was identified as a potential catalyst for creating recovery-oriented therapeutic relationships. Conclusion: Mental health workers are ready to grasp opportunities to use e-mental health resources with consumers. This has the potential to develop and strengthen collaborative, partnership-based relationships if mental health services support workers and consumers to use online resources together.

Ethics approval

Alfred Health, Melbourne Health, St Vincent’s Hospital, MIND Australia, Swinburne University of Technology, and La Trobe University Ethics Committee(s) approved this study. All participants gave written informed consent before data collection began.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Victorian Department of Health Mental Illness Research Fund (MIRF33) and by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.

Notes on contributors

Anne Williams

Anne Williams, MOT, is a lecturer, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia, and a doctoral candidate, Living With Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Ellie Fossey

Ellie Fossey, PhD, is a professor of occupational therapy, Monash University, Frankston, VIC, Australia, and an associate professor, Living With Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

John Farhall

John Farhall, PhD, is a consultant clinical psychologist, NorthWestern Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, and an associate professor, Department of Psychology and Counselling, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Fiona Foley

Fiona Foley, B.Sc. (Hons), is a project manager, Self Management and Recovery Technology (SMART), Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia and honorary consultant clinical psychologist, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital and Monash University Central Clinical School, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Neil Thomas

Neil Thomas, DClinPsych, is a deputy director, Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia and honorary consultant clinical psychologist, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital and Monash University Central Clinical School, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.