With one in three psychologist unable to take on new patients amid a high demand for mental health support, some people are searching online for self-guided alternatives, but how do you find reputable, legitimate help on the internet?
Swinburne University of Technology National e-Therapy Centre director Associate Professor Neil Thomas says research shows that, for some conditions, online self-guided therapy options can be just as beneficial as in-person sessions.
A range of self-guided courses are available online for help with conditions such as anxiety and depression, the two most commonly reported mental health issues in Australia. "What we would say is, the best model is a program where there's some [trained counsellor or psychologist] support available."Australian Psychological Society president and counselling psychologist Dr Catriona Davis-McCade says online and mobile app options can be "very appropriate for some people".
A quick online search for mental health support brings up countless results, while social media platforms are full of adverts for apps, ranging from one-on-one sessions via online communication to self-guided modules.