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

Abstract

Background: Suicide 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).

Objective: This 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.

Methods: A 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.

Results: Among 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.

Conclusions: The 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.