Development of ACROSSnet: an online support system for rural and remote community suicide prevention workers in Queensland,Australia

Abstract

Communication and information technologies can reduce the barriers of distance and space that disadvantage communities in Australia's underserved rural areas, where the health status of residents is often worse than that of their urban counterparts. ACROSSnet (Australians Creating Rural Online Support Systems) is a 3 year collaborative action research project that aims to design and develop an online support system that will assist rural communities in accessing information, education and support regarding suicide and its prevention, whilst considering the challenges of Internet speed, cost and availability that can impede the delivery of online services. The site provides three distinct levels of access: one level for community members, and two further levels for appropriately credentialled mental health workers. In creating this environment, the ACROSSnet team hopes that online communities of practice will develop, engaging participants of different ages, income and education levels, location, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Keywords

Australia mental health workers online support rural communities suicide prevention

References

Swanson B. Information technology and under-served communities . Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 1999; 5 (Suppl 2); S3-S10 .

Ellis I. Is telehealth the right tool for remote communities? Improving health status in rural Australia . Contemporary Nurse 2004; 16 (3); 163-168 .

Johnson C M. A survey of current research on online communities of practice . The Internet and Higher Education 2001; 4 (1); 45-60 .

Kulkarni R G , Stough R R , Haynes K E. Towards modeling of communities of practice (CoPs): a Hebbian learning approach to organizational learning . Technological Forecasting and Social Change 2000; 64 (1); 71-83 .

Elliott-Schmidt R , Strong J. The concept of well-being in a rural setting: understanding health and illness . Australian Journal of Rural Health 1997; 5 (2); 59-63 .

Mubarak A R. A comparative study on family, social supports and mental health of rural and urban Malay women . Medical Journal of Malaysia 1997; 52 (3); 274-284 .

McLaren S , Hopes L M. Rural-urban differences in reasons for living . Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2002; 36 (5); 688-692 .

De Leo D , Evans R. International Suicide Rates and Prevention Strategies. Göttingen: Hogrefe & Huber , 2004.

Beautrais A L. Risk factors for suicide and attempted suicide among young people . Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2000; 34 (3); 420-436 .

10.

Beckinsale P , Martin G , Clark S. Youth suicide issues in general practice . Australian Family Physician 2001; 30 (4); 391-394 .

11.

De Leo D , Evans R. Suicide in Queensland, 1996-1998: Mortality Rates and Related Data. Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention and Queensland Health, Mental Health Branch. Brisbane: Griffith University Press , 2002.

12.

Cantor C H , Neulinger K , De Leo D.

Australian suicide trends 1964-1997: youth and beyond?

Medical Journal of Australia 1999; 171 (3); 137-141 .

13.

Dudley M J , Florio J K , Howard J P , Waters B G. Suicide among young Australians, 1964-1993: an interstate comparison of metropolitan and rural trends . Medical Journal of Australia 1998; 169 (2); 77-80 .

14.

Moscicki E. Epidemiology of suicidal behavior . Suicide & Life Threatening Behaviour 1995; 25 (1); 22-35 .

15.

World Health Organization . Preventing Suicide: How To Start a Survivors Group. WHO/MNH/MBD/00.6. Geneva: WHO , 2000.

16.

Setting the Evidence-Based Research Agenda for Australia: A Literature Review. National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care , 1999.

17.

Seinen A , Daws L , Wood L , Simpson, L. Creating Rural Connections Final Report Book 3: Online Service Delivery and Support. Brisbane: The Communication Centre , 2001.

18.

Pirkis J E , Burgess P , Meadows G N , Dunt D R. Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts as predictors of mental health service use . Medical Journal of Australia 2001; 175 (10); 542-545 .

19.

Scouller K M , Smith D I.

Prevention of youth suicide: how well informed are the potential gatekeepers of adolescents in distress?

Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior 2002; 32 (1); 67-79 .

20.

Lawrence D , Holman C D J , Jablensky A V , Fuller S A , Stoney A J. Increasing rates of suicide in Western Australian psychiatric patients: a record linkage study . Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2001; 104 (6); 443-451 .

21.

Tudiver F , Talbot Y. Why don't men seek help? Family physicians' perspectives on help-seeking behaviour in men . Journal of Family Practice 1999; 48; 47-52 .

22.

Caldwell T M , Jorm A F , Dear K B G. Suicide and mental health in rural, remote and metropolitan areas in Australia . Medical Journal of Australia 2004; 181 (7); S10-S14 .

23.

Highet N J , Hickie I B , Davenport T A. Monitoring awareness of and attitudes to depression in Australia . Medical Journal of Australia 2002; 176 (Suppl May 20); S63-S68 .

24.

Goldney R D , Fisher L J , Wilson D H , Cheok F. Mental health literacy of those with major depression and suicidal ideation: an impediment to help seeking . Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior 2002; 32 (4); 394-403 .

25.

Caldwell T M , Jorm A F , Dear K B G. Suicide and mental health in rural, remote and metropolitan areas in Australia . Medical Journal of Australia 2004; 181 (7); S10-S14 .

26.

Betts V T , Thornicroft G. International Mid-Term Review of the Second National Mental Health Plan for Australia. Canberra: Mental Health and Special Programs Branch, Australian Department of Health and Ageing , 2001.

27.

Burgess P , Pirkis J , Morton J , Croke E. Lessons from a comprehensive clinical audit of users of psychiatric services who committed suicide . Psychiatric Services 2000; 51; 1555-1560 .

28.

Appleby L , Shaw J , Amos T. Suicide within 12 months of contact with mental health services: national clinical survey . British Medical Journal 1999; 318; 1235-1239 .

29.

Time Running Out: Shaping Regional Australia's Future. Report of an inquiry into infrastructure and the development of Australia's regional areas. Canberra: House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services, The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia , 2000.

30.

Kavanagh S J , Yellowlees P M.

Telemedicine: clinical applications in mental health

. Australian Family Physician 1995; 24 (7); 1242-1247 .

31.

Kennedy C , Blignault I , Hornsby D , Yellowlees P M. Videoconferencing in the Queensland health service . Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2001; 7 (5); 266-271 .

32.

Simpson L , Daws L , Pini B. Public Internet access revisited . Telecommunications Policy 2004; 28 (3-4): 323-337 .

33.

Carter M. Integrated electronic health records and patient privacy: possible benefits but real dangers . Medical Journal of Australia 2000; 172 (1); 28-30 .

34.

Smith J , Hays R.

Is rural medicine a separate discipline?

Australian Journal of Rural Health 2004; 12 (2); 67-72 .

35.

Sager R. 5000 health science students may want to work in rural Australia: but they need a little more encouragement and support. Statement by National Rural Health Network , 2000.

36.

Burdekin, B. Human Rights and Mental Illness: Report of the National Inquiry into Human Rights of People with Mental Illness. Canberra: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission , 1993.

37.

Bradley A , McLean R. Issues in rural nursing: A Victorian perspective . Paper presented at the Fifth National Rural Health Conference, 2000. www.ruralhealth.org.au/fifthconf.

38.

Christensen H , Hocking B M , Smith D. Web and telecounselling in Australia . Medical Journal of Australia 2004; 180 (12); 604-605 .

39.

Christensen H , Griffiths K M , Jorm A F. Delivering interventions for depression by using the Internet: randomised controlled trial . British Medical Journal 2004; 328 (January); 265-268 .

40.

Miller R S. Successful urban to rural professional role transition . Community Mental Health Journal 1981; 17 (2); 143-152 .

41.

Guscott A. Preceptorship: a model to empower nurses in rural health settings . The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 1998; 29 (4); 154-162 .

42.

Mitchell J M , Robinson P J , Seiboth C , Koszegi B. Evaluation of a network for professional development in child and adolescent mental health in rural and remote communities . Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2000; 6 (3); 158-162 .

43.

Morrissett P. The experiences of the rural school counsellor . Professional School Counselling 2000; 3 (3); 197-207 .

44.

Doolan T , Nichols A. Training for rural practice: the way ahead . Paper presented at the Issues Affecting Rural Communities Conference, 10-15 July 1994, Townsville.

45.

Humphreys J S , Jones M P , Jones J A , Mara P R. Workforce retention in rural and remote Australia: determining the factors that influence length of practice . Medical Journal of Australia 2002; 176 (10); 472-476 .

46.

Hodgson L , Spundle N , Belovic T. Supporting rural counsellors. Allied Health Outreach Support Service, Queensland Health, 2000.

47.

Sacco M. Skills and requirements of rural human service organisations . Paper presented at the Issues Affecting Rural Communities Conference, 10-15 July 1994, Townsville.

48.

Bridges D. A public-academic partnership to train psychiatric residents in a rural mental health program . Hospital and Community Psychiatry 1994; 45 (1); 66-69 .

49.

Geissinger H , Lloyd P. Continuing professional development for rural and remote health care . Paper presented at the Sixth National Rural Health Conference, 2001. www.abc.net.au/rural/health/papers/paper19.htm.

50.

Daly G. Understanding the barriers to multiprofessional collaboration . Nursing Times 2004; 100 (9); 78-79 .

51.

www.lifeline.org.au, 22 October 2004.

52.

Brown R H , Irving L. Survey of Rural Information Infrastructure Technologies. US Department of Commerce (Communications and Information; Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration) , 1995.

53.

Dearness K L , Tomlin A. Development of the national electronic library for mental health: providing evidence-based information for all . Health Information & Libraries Journal 2001; 18 (3); 167-174 .

54.

Dede C. The evolution of distance education: emerging technologies and distributed learning . American Journal of Distance Education 1996; 10 (2); 4-36 .

55.

Hovenga E J , Hovel J , Klotz J , Robins P. Infrastructure for reaching disadvantaged consumers: telecommunications in rural and remote nursing in Australia . Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 1998; 5 (3); 269-275 .

56.

Myrick R D , Sabella R A. Cyberspace: new place for counsellor supervision . Elementary School Guidance and Counselling 1995; 30 (1); 35-44 .

57.

Finn J. An exploration of helping processes in an online self-help group focusing on issues of disability . Health & Social Work 1999; 24 (3); 220-231 .

58.

Making the Net Work. National Office for the Information Economy. Canberra: Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts , 1997.

59.

Kane B , Sands D Z. Guidelines for the clinical use of electronic mail with patients . Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 1998; 5; 104-111 .

60.

Spielberg A. On call and online: sociocultural, legal and ethical implications of email for the patient-physician relationship . Journal of the American Medical Association 1998; 280; 1353-1359 .

61.

Yellowlees P.

The future of Australasian psychiatrists: online or out of touch?

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2000; 34 (4); 553-559 .

62.

Christensen H , Griffiths K. The Internet and mental health literacy . Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior 2000; 33 (2); 975-979 .

63.

Yellowlees P. Healthcare on the Internet: buyers beware . Medical Journal of Australia 2000; 173; 629-630 .

64.

Field M J , Grigsby J. Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring . Journal of the American Medical Association 2002; 288; 423-425 .

65.

Kinsella A. Home telecare in the United States . Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare 1998; 4; 195-200 .

66.

Young U K. National Review of Telecounselling and Web Counselling Services: Final Report. Canberra: Australian Department of Health and Ageing , 2003. www.mentalhealth.gov.au/resources/reports/counsel.htm.

67.

Jorm A F , Korten A , Jacomb P , Christensen H , Rodgers B , Politt P. 'Mental health literacy': a survey of the public's ability to recognise mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment . Medical Journal of Australia 1997; 166; 182-186 .

68.

Swanson B. Information technology and under-served communities . Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare 1999; 5 (Suppl 2); S3-S10 .

69.

Draper R , Rigby M. An ICT solution for community mental health: putting virtuality into the vision . Studies in Health Technology & Informatics 2000; 77; 969-973 .

70.

Fox N J , Dolman E A , Lane P , O'Rourke A J , Roberts C. The WISDOM project: training primary care professionals in informatics in a collaborative 'virtual classroom' . Medical Education 1999; 33 (5); 365-370 .

71.

http://www.gpcg.org/publications/docs/Uptake_of_IT_in_rural_areas.pdf, 4 October 2004.

72.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, 21 October 2004.

73.

Baym N. Interpreting soap operas and creating community: inside an electronic fan culture . Culture of the Internet 1997; 103-120 .

74.

Baym N. The emergence of community in computer-mediated communication . CyberSociety: Computer-Mediated Communication and Community 1995; 138-163 .

75.

Lundin R. Rural Isolation: Technologies for the Delivery of Education and Training in Issues Affecting Rural Communities. Townsville: James Cook University , 1994.

76.

McMurray A. Undertaking research for the benefit of the rural community . Australian Journal of Rural Health 1998; 6 (2); 89-95 .

77.

Haythornthwaite C , Kazmer M M , Robins J , Shoemaker S. Community development among distance learners: temporal and technological dimensions . Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 2000; 6 (1).

78.

Haines V , Hurlbert J S , Beggs J J. Exploring the determinants of support provision: provider characteristics, personal networks, community contexts, and support following life events . Journal of Health & Social Behavior 1996; 37 (3); 252-264 .

79.

www.kidshelp.com.au, 22 October 2004.

80.

Burns J M , Patton G C. Preventive interventions for youth suicide: a risk-factor-based approach . Review Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2000; 34 (3); 388-407 .

81.

Tatz C. Aboriginal Suicide Is Different. Canberra: Criminology Research Council, Australian Institute of Criminology , 2001.

82.

Joiner T E Jr , Pfaff J J , Acres J G. Characteristics of suicidal adolescents and young adults presenting to primary care with non-suicidal (indeed non-psychological) complaints . European Journal of Public Health 2002; 12 (3); 177-179 .

83.

Leane W , Shute R. Youth suicide: the knowledge and attitudes of Australian teachers and clergy . Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior 1998; 28 (2); 165-173 .

84.

Fuller J , Edwards J , Procter N , Moss J. How definition of mental health problems can influence help seeking in rural and remote communities . Australian Journal of Rural Health 2000; 8 (3); 148-153 .