Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40138690›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2025

Use of e-Mental Health Tools for Suicide Prevention in Clinical Practice by Mental Health Professionals in NSW, Australia: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Carol Hood, Sally Hunt, Alexandra P Metse, Rebecca K Hodder, Kim Colyvas, Rachel Sheather-Reid, David Duerden, Jenny Bowman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Carol HoodSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6231-6762
Sally HuntSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5955-3561
Alexandra P MetseSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8641-1024
Rebecca K HodderHunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3730-0907
Kim ColyvasSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6966-760X
Rachel Sheather-ReidCentral Coast Mental Health Service, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9282-2408
David DuerdenCentral Coast Mental Health Service, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6648-9231
Jenny BowmanSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7800-8027

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSuicide is a significant global health concern. In the context of increased demand for mental health services and workforce shortages, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, electronic mental health (eMH) tools represent a promising means of augmenting mental health care generally and for suicide prevention specifically. A significant research gap exists however with respect to the use and uptake of eMH tools, especially electronic mental health tools for suicide prevention (eMH-SP).

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the use of eMH tools by Australian mental health professionals, both in general and with respect to suicide prevention specifically, examining changes in use since COVID-19. Further, it explored factors associated with frequent use of eMH-SP, including sociodemographic and professional characteristics.

methodsA web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted across 15 local health districts (LHDs) in New South Wales, Australia, from May 2022 to July 2023. The sample was drawn from over 10,000 mental health professionals working in government services statewide. The survey explored the use of electronic mental health tools for general mental health issues (eMH-gen) and eMH-SP, explored the changes in the use of both since COVID-19, and used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with the current use of eMH-SP.

resultsAmong 469 participants, increased use since COVID-19 was reported by over half (247/469, 52.7%) for eMH-gen, and by approximately one-third (141/386, 36.6%) for eMH-SP. The proportion reporting frequent use increased significantly from before to after COVID-19 for both eMH-gen (243/469, 51.8% to 283/469, 60.3%; P<.001) and eMH-SP (152/386, 39.4% to 170/385, 44.2%; P=.01). Since COVID-19, the most frequently used types of eMH tools for eMH-gen and eMH-SP, respectively, were information sites (231/469, 49.3% and 130/385, 33.8%), phone/online counseling (173/469, 36.9% and 130/385, 33.8%), and apps (145/469, 30.9% and 107/385, 27.8%). Professionals more likely to use eMH-SP frequently were females (odds ratio [OR] 3.32, 95% CI 1.88-5.87; P<.001) compared with males; peer workers (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.0-4.71; P<.001) compared with nurses; those located in regional/rural LHDs (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.04-2.61; P=.03) compared with metropolitan LHDs; and those practicing in emergency health care settings (OR 8.31, 95% CI 2.17-31.75; P=.03) compared with inpatient settings.

conclusionsThe study's findings highlight the increasing adoption of eMH tools and delivery of remote care by mental health professionals and provide valuable new insights into sociodemographic factors associated with the use of eMH for suicide prevention specifically. Continued research on the role eMH is playing is essential for guiding policy, optimizing resources, and enhancing mental health care and suicide prevention efforts.

Indexed as

Health PersonnelMental Health ServicesSuicide PreventionTelemedicineAdultCOVID-19Cross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthMiddle AgedNew South WalesSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesAustraliaclinical practicecross-sectional surveydigital mental healthe-mental health toolsinternetmental health professionalsmobile appspeer supportsuicide prevention

Identifiers

PMID40138690
PMCPMC11982768

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.