Authors: Queensland University of Technology
Year: 2011
Event: 2011 TheMHS Awards
Subject:
Type of resource: TheMHS Awards
Award state: QLD
Award level: Finalist
Award category: E-Health Services
Abstract: OnTrack is an online psychology service to support mental health and wellbeing, by improving access to psychological services. It offers anonymous visitors information, screening measures and feedback, and helps practitioners apply psychological strategies. It supports self-management by consumers, with online tools, written and audio resources, diary-based monitoring, and feedback on progress. OnTrack is free, and gives Australians 24-hour access to interventions, wherever they live. It uses evidence-based methods, is informed by consumer and practitioner input, and is attractive and easy to use. Distinctive features include its flexibility (users can choose program segments and pace). It targets issues not previously addressed by online services, and is unique in addressing co-occurring substance use. Its programs focus on recurrent depression, alcohol use, co-occurring depression and alcohol, risk of psychosis, and support for families and friends. Programs to support victims of natural disasters and people with diabetes will shortly be released. Description of Facility/Organisation: OnTrack was developed by Professor David Kavanagh and colleagues at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology. Its development was sponsored by Queensland Health’s Mental Health Branch, with over $600k in funding support. OnTrack offers mental health consumers free access to online psychological programs for a variety of mental health concerns, and provides an opportunity for practitioner skill building through its specialised practitioner program. OnTrack is staffed by 2 full-time and 4 part-time psychologists who work closely with 2 in-house web application developers. This unique infrastructure allows for rapid program development, timely upgrades and easy addition or expansion of programs. The team also has 5 postgraduate psychology students involved in evaluation of programs. OnTrack was launched on November 25th 2009 and has over 1200 consumers and 200 practitioners registered across all programs. In 2010, it won the Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Award for a Government Service/Program.
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