Uptake of mental health websites in primary care: Insights from an Australian longitudinal cohort study of depression

Jane Gunn; Jacqui Cameron; Konstancja Densley; Sandra Davidson; Susie Fletcher; Victoria Palmer; Patty Chondros; Christopher Dowrick; Jane Pirkis

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2017.07.008

Uptake of mental health websites in primary care: Insights from an Australian longitudinal cohort study of depression

Patient Educ Couns. 2018 Jan;101(1):105-112. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.07.008. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

Authors

Jane Gunn¹, Jacqui Cameron², Konstancja Densley³, Sandra Davidson⁴, Susie Fletcher⁵, Victoria Palmer⁶, Patty Chondros⁷, Christopher Dowrick⁸, Jane Pirkis⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Institute of Psychology Health and Society, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 28739180
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.07.008

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics of primary care attendees with depressive symptoms who use mental health websites.

Methods: 789 individuals with depressive symptoms recruited and followed up annually for nine years. Self-reported written surveys included mental health, professional and self-help use, e-mental health interventions or therapeutic websites. Marginal logistic regression examined association between mental health website (MHW) use and patient's mental health, health services use, anti-depressant use and self-help strategies.

Results: 36% of participants used an MHW at least once. MHW users were more likely to be female, younger, highly educated and employed. MHW use increased with depressive symptom severity; reported in 16% of assessments when minimal symptoms were present and 28% when severe symptoms were present. MHW use was associated with: GP mental health visits, psychologist and psychiatrist visits and other self-help strategies including self-help books and telephone helplines.

Conclusion(s): Mental health websites were more likely to be used by those with severe depressive symptoms rather than those with mild depression as recommended in current guidelines.

Practice implication(s): Whilst mental health websites offer potential to support the high volume of people with mild depression new strategies may be required to ensure uptake.

Keywords: Depression; Longitudinal data; Mental health policy; Mental health websites; Primary care; e-Mental health.

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia
Consumer Behavior*
Depression / drug therapy
Depression / psychology*
Female
Humans
Internet*
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
Mental Health*
Middle Aged
Primary Health Care*
Prospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Telemedicine*