Depression; Anxiety; Panic; Social Anxiety; OCD; PTSD
Provider
Mental Health Online (previously “Anxiety Online”) is an initiative of Swinburne University’s National eTherapy Centre (NeTC) and funded by Australia’s Federal Department of Health.
Links
Language
English
Pricing
The seven programs are free.
Description from the Mental Health Online website
Depression Online program
Depression Online has 11 modules that you can do in your own time and have access to for 12 months. It provides information about depression and introduces skills and strategies that can help you to: identify the symptoms of depression; start using activity to improve your mood; discover and challenge unhelpful thoughts; boost your wellbeing by making lifestyle changes; plan to maintain your mental health gains after the course.
Panic Stop! program
The Panic STOP! program has 12 modules that you can do in your own time and have access to for 12 months. It provides information about Panic Disorder, with or without agoraphobia, and introduces skills and strategies that can help you to: identify the symptoms of panic disorder; self-monitor your specific panic symptoms and mood; gain control of physical reaction; learn how to cope with, and reduce panic attack; learn relaxation techniques; make lifestyle changes to improve your wellbeing.
Social Anxiety Online program
The Social Anxiety program has 12 modules that you can do in your own time and have access to for 12 months. It provides information about social anxiety and introduces skills and strategies that can help you to: identify and monitor the symptoms of social anxiety; learn relaxation and breathing techniques to reduce social anxiety symptoms; discover and challenge unhelpful thoughts; boost your wellbeing by making lifestyle changes; face feared social situations using exposure therapy; plan to maintain your mental health gains after the course.
Depression-Anxiety program
The Depression-Anxiety program has 12 modules that you can do in your own time and have access to for 12 months. Overall, the program will help you understand the symptoms you have been experiencing and teach you strategies to improve your wellbeing and mental health. The content aims to provide useful information and to introduce skills that can help you to manage symptoms and alleviate distress. You can do Depression-Anxiety at your own pace, and engage with the materials you find most helpful.
OCD Stop! program
The OCD STOP! program has 12 modules that you can do in your own time and have access to for 12 months. Our program combines cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention therapy (ERPT) which is considered the most effective treatment for OCD. It provides information about OCD and introduces skills and strategies that can help you to: improve your understanding of OCD; learn practical techniques to manage anxiety in OCD; discover ways to manage intrusive thoughts; be guided through exposure and how to manage your responses; learn how to maintain the gains from the course.
PTSD Online program
The PTSD Online program has 12 modules that you can do in your own time and have access to for 12 months. It provides information about PTSD and helps you to understand why it develops. PTSD Online also introduces the skills and strategies that can help you to: identify the symptoms of PTSD; learn relaxation techniques including progressive muscle relaxation; gain control of physical reactions; learn how to change any unhelpful thoughts and beliefs maintaining PTSD; plan to maintain your mental health gains after the course.
Anxiety and Worry Online program
The Anxiety and Worry program has 12 modules that you can do in your own time and have access to for 12 months. It provides information about anxiety and introduces skills and strategies that can help you to: understand and identify anxiety and worry; monitor and reduce specific anxiety symptoms; gain control of physical reactions; identify and replace unhelpful beliefs and ways of thinking; learn problem-solving techniques; make lifestyle changes to improve your wellbeing.
Guidance
On the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, we can read the following: “Users outside of Australia are welcome to complete any of our self-guided programs. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer our therapist assisted programs for anyone living outside of Australia.”
Outside of Australia, all programs are unguided, meaning that you complete them entirely on your own. Mental Health Online does not provide access to coaches or therapists. However, you can choose to work with a therapist you find independently.
Individuals residing in Australia have the option to complete any program in a guided format.
Platform
The programs are available on smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection. There is no dedicated mobile app.
Data privacy
The privacy policy is available at this address.
Expert involvement
Mental health experts were involved in the development of the programs.
Scientific studies on the efficacy of the programs
Although the articles documenting the efficacy of the programs are not listed on the Mental Health Online website, we contacted them and they kindly provided a list of relevant peer-reviewed articles.
N = 225
N = 347
N = 13,414
N = 9394
N = 12,665
N = 65
N = 96
N = 222
Most psychological difficulties
Provider
This Way Up is a non-profit and joint initiative of St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of New South Wales. It is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Links
Language
English
Pricing
The 12 treatment programs are free but require a prescription from a healthcare professional.
Australian residents can access the treatment programs without a prescription at AUD $59 for 90-days of access.
Australian residents can access the four wellbeing programs (i.e., stress management program; insomnia program; mindfulness program; and student wellbeing program) free of charge; these four programs are not available outside Australia.
Description from the This Way Up website
Depression program
This 6-lesson program teaches how to tackle feelings of persistent sadness, low motivation, irritability, tiredness, and low mood, and use helpful strategies to start feeling better.
Panic program
This 6-lesson program teaches how to tackle the sudden and frightening physical symptoms associated with panic attacks and use helpful strategies to manage fear and anxiety about having a future attack.
Social Anxiety program
This 6-lesson program teaches how to tackle excessive shyness, fears of being judged by others, and anxiety in social situations, and use helpful strategies to build your confidence and self-esteem.
Anxiety and Depression program
This 6-lesson program is about helping you tackle feelings of persistent anxiety, nervousness, low motivation, tiredness, and low mood, and use helpful strategies to stay well.
OCD program
This 6-lesson program teaches how to tackle frightening, unpleasant or unwanted thoughts and hard-to-control urges to perform repetitive behaviours, and use helpful strategies to overcome obsessions and compulsions.
Post Traumatic Stress program
This 8-lesson program teaches how to tackle frightening flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, or low mood following a traumatic event or experience, and use helpful strategies to start feeling better.
Generalised Anxiety program
This 6-lesson program teaches how to tackle feelings of persistent and hard-to-control worry, anxiety, and chronic unease, and use helpful strategies for managing repetitive negative thoughts about the future.
Health Anxiety program
This 6-lesson program teaches how to tackle excessive worry about health, fear of developing an illness, and repetitive self-checking behaviours, and use helpful strategies to ease anxiety around health-related information.
Chronic Pain program
This 8-lesson program teaches practical strategies for coping with chronic pain, including how to improve your mobility, flexibility, and mental wellbeing so that you can feel better and reduce the impact of pain on your daily life.
Mindfulness-Enhanced CBT program
This 6-lesson program combines the cognitive-behavioural strategies taught in the Anxiety and Depression Program, with mindfulness skills and meditation training.
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression programs
These 3-lesson programs teach how to tackle feelings of anxiety, worry, and low mood during pregnancy and in the postpartum period to help mums build confidence and improve the way they feel.
Teen Worry and Sadness program
This 6-lesson program is designed to help young people (aged 12 to 17) manage feelings of stress, anxiety, and low mood, and use helpful strategies for building confidence when tackling common adolescent experiences.
Guidance
This Way Up does not provide access to coaches or therapists. However, since access to the programs requires a prescription, the mental health professional making the prescription might offer you some guidance.
Platform
The programs are available on smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection. There is no dedicated mobile app.
Data privacy
The privacy policy is available at this address
Expert involvement
Mental health experts were involved in the development of the programs.
Scientific studies on the efficacy of the programs
The Climate Panic program of Internet-based treatment for panic disorder:
A pilot study
N = 10
We were unable to identify studies testing this program. However, it is worth noting that this program was adapted from the adult Anxiety and Depression program to be more suitable for young people from 12-17 years of age. The adult Anxiety and Depression program has been tested in several studies.
Depression, Anxiety & Stress
Provider
Black Dog Institute is an independent Medical Research Institute, non-profit organization located within the Prince of Wales Hospital Campus and affiliated with UNSW Australia (the University of New South Wales).
Link
Language
English
Pricing
The myCompass program is free.
You will be asked to enter a postal code on signing up. Only Australian format – four numbers in a row – is accepted. We were able to create an account with “2000” as the postal code.
At the time of writing this review, their Terms of Use do not state that myCompass is exclusively for Australian residents.
Description from the Black Dog Institute website
myCompass offers 14 online learning activities that deliver evidence-based psychological techniques. myCompass mood tracking features allows you to track your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in four areas – depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep. In addition, it provides graphical feedback to help you better recognise the patterns and triggers that impact your mental health, both positively and negatively. The learning activities deliver proven psychological techniques doctors and psychologists use, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Guidance
myCompass is unguided, meaning you complete the activities entirely on your own. Black Dog Institute does not provide access to coaches or therapists. However, you can choose to work with a therapist you find independently.
Platform
The program is available on smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection. There is no dedicated mobile app.
Data privacy
The privacy policy is available at this address
Expert involvement
Mental health experts were involved in the development of the program.
Scientific study on the efficacy of the program
Depression; Anxiety; Social Anxiety; Divorce; Loss
