Posted by Leon Tan at the ISMHO Discussion Forum, April 18, 2007

My take on the NZ online mental health and technology situation:

Whilst many NZers are online, a vast number are still online at dial-up speeds, with migration onto broadband slowly increasing (in tandem with moves such as the recent unbundling of the local loop) - broadband access rates average 2mb with upper limits of 8mb for most residential users.

Public responsiveness and attitude to online mental health have been generally supportive - the launch of AUT University's online counselling service in 2005 received considerable positive media attention and the service itself attracted over 100 cases in the first academic year of operation. Organisations such as Youthline in NZ have been using the internet for some years now in assisting young people in distress.

There have been a number of innovation successes in telemedicine and technology mediated healthcare. A mobile phone based text message smoking cessation program STOMP reported success in clinical trials in 2005. This too received positive media coverage and attracted government funding.

Professional associations have yet to develop appropriate ethical guidelines. The NZAC (Assn of Counsellors) are the only body to have a section on online work and this is very limited. The NZ Assn of Psychotherapists and Psychologists Association both have nothing in the ethical guidelines in regards to online counselling or psychotherapy practice.

I'm interested to talk to others with an interest in New Zealand. Also, I'd be fascinated to know whether or not NZers are seeking online mental health services globally and what this distribution might look like.