The Future of Telemental Health and Psychology in Australia: Restoring the Psychologically “Clever Country”?

Abstract

Australian psychologists have always been challenged to find innovative ways of overcoming the geographical, social, and economic barriers that characterise health care across this vast country. With the rapid digitalisation of communication globally, psychologists are urged to anticipate the ways in which information and communication technology will affect our practice in the future and to pro‐actively formulate ways in which we can meet the changing demands for mental health services. Increasingly, research demonstrates that efficacy, clinical effectiveness, cost, and satisfaction are roughly equivalent for telepsychology as traditional face‐to‐face interventions. If psychologists are to retain a leadership role in the provision of global psychological services, it is imperative that we prepare to make provision to integrate new technologies into our professional practice. This article outlines some barriers and possible strategies to address them as we identify future directions for telemental health and the professional practice of psychology in the Australia.

Key words:

• future
• health
• tele psychology
• emental health
• telemental