Photo by Leland Francisco (Lel4nd), Flickr.
The Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) at ANU has welcomed the Federal Government's commitment to establishing a national e-mental health portal but warned that sufficient ongoing funding must be allocated to ensure it is a success. Professor Helen Christensen, Director of CMHR and President of The Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research, said she was delighted that the budget included a commitment to the portal. CMHR runs a number of very successful e-mental health websites which have provided online advice, guidance and assistance to more than 500,000 visitors. 'We're really pleased to see the government has listened to the advice that we and others have given them, and will set up an e-mental health portal,? said Professor Christensen. ?The Internet is an extremely effective way of providing health services to those who prefer to remain anonymous, or who live in areas where psychiatric and psychological services are hard to access. ?This reform will consolidate a range of effective services that operate nationally to provide help to the public, including one from CMHR that provides individuals a range of websites and e-learning programs that have been effective in reducing depression, anxiety and in aiding recovery,? she said. Despite the welcome commitment, Professor Christensen sounded a note of concern about ongoing funding for the portal and other e-health initiatives.
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