National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards

The Commission is developing National Safety And Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards in collaboration with consumers, carers, clinicians, service providers and technical experts to address key safety and quality risks for digital mental health service users.

The development of the NSQDMH Standards is a significant first step in providing safety and quality assurance for digital mental health service users, and best practice guidance for service providers and developers.

Consultation now open

The draft NSQDMH Standards are available to download here:

The Commission is seeking feedback on the draft standards from consumers and carers, clinicians, service providers and any other interested stakeholders.

Our preferred method for receiving your feedback is by online survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J9PJ5G8

Alternatively, feedback can be provided by:

Email: DMHS@safetyandquality.gov.au

Mail:

Ben Prest
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
GPO Box 5480
Sydney NSW 2001

Register for a consultation forum

To support the consultation process, the Commission is holding a series of location-based online forums and webinars in March-May 2020. These will be facilitated by Dr Peggy Brown AO, Senior Clinical Advisor, and will give stakeholders a chance to discuss the draft NSQDMH Standards, provide feedback and ask questions of the project team.

The Commission recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented demand on health services and healthcare workers, and has affected the lives of all Australians. We appreciate any support you can provide for this project under the current circumstances.

The Commission invites consumers and carers, clinicians, service providers, and all other stakeholders able to attend a forum or webinar to register their interest at the following link: https://consultation-nsqdmh-standards.eventbrite.com.au

Stakeholders are welcome to attend any of the forums at a time that suits, regardless of their location. Attendees will be asked to join via videoconference or teleconference and will need access to a laptop or device with an internet connection.

If you are not able to attend a forum, we invite you to register for one of our one-hour webinars or provide feedback via our online survey.

Alternatively, you can view a video of Dr Brown’s presentation from the Hobart forum at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRr19l4qhcs or download the presentation slides here:

If you have any questions please contact the project team at DMHS@safetyandquality.gov.au

Forums:

• PERTH - Wednesday 1 April 2020, 10:00am - 12:00pm AWST (Online)

• ADELAIDE - Thursday 2 April 2020, 10:00am - 12:00pm ACDT (Online)

• MELBOURNE - Monday 6 April 2020, 10:00am - 12:00pm AEST (Online)

• MILDURA - Tuesday 7 April 2020, 12:00pm - 2:00pm AEST (Online)

• SYDNEY - Wednesday 15 April 2020, 10:00am - 12:00pm AEST (Online)

• DUBBO - Thursday 16 April 2020, 10:00am - 12:00pm AEST (Online)

• CANBERRA - Thursday 23 April 2020, 10:00am - 12:00pm AEST (Online)

• DARWIN - Friday 1 May 2020, 9:00am - 11:00am ACST (Online)

Webinars:

• WEBINAR - Monday 6 April 2020, 2.00pm – 3.00pm AEST (New date)

• WEBINAR 2 - Wednesday 22 April 2020, 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST

• WEBINAR 3 - Thursday 30 April 2020, 5:00pm - 6:00pm AEST

What is a digital mental health service?

The Commission defines a digital mental health service as a mental health, suicide prevention, or alcohol and other drugs service that uses technology to facilitate engagement and the delivery of care.

This includes information, digital counselling, treatment and peer to peer support services delivered via telephone, videoconference, websites, SMS, webchat, and mobile applications (apps).

You can access a range of digital mental health services on the Australian Government’s digital mental health gateway Head to Health.

Background

Digital mental health services have seen significant growth over the past decade, offering new and innovative ways for consumers and carers to access services. Digital services may be easier to access than face-to-face services, and sometimes can be accessed anonymously to protect user identity.¹

In 2018-19, the Commission spoke to consumers, carers, clinicians, service providers and experts about how to build user confidence, increase adoption rates, and enhance consumer and carer empowerment and choice in digital mental health services.

Stakeholders from across the digital mental health sector supported the development of National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.

For further information on this project, please refer to the documents below.

Contact

For more information on the project please contact: Ben Prest, Senior Project Officer at: DMHS@safetyandquality.gov.au

[1] Department of Health. Australian Government Response to Contributing Lives, Thriving Communities – Review of Mental Health   Programmes and Services. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2015.