Heidi Sturk

Heidi Sturk is the Director of eMHPrac (e-Mental Health in Practice) at Queensland University of Technology. Heidi develops, delivers and evaluates training and support on digital mental health to health practitioners and service providers nationwide. She holds a Master of Organisational Psychology and has over 25 years’ experience working in mental health. Her areas of interest include how to integrate appropriate digital technologies into health care, rural and remote health care practice, and wellbeing of health practitioners.

Presentation

Abstract

Title: WellMob: Social and Emotional Wellbeing Online Resources for Indigenous Communities

Author(s): Heidi Sturk¹, David Edwards²

¹eMPrac Service, Queensland University of Technology, ²WellMob, University Centre of Rural Health, University of Sydney

Introduction: E-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac) is a support service funded by the Australian Government to build digital mental health awareness and skills in primary care practitioners across the country. One of eMHPrac’s recent initiatives is the development of WellMob, a website that brings together online social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The website design and content reflect that connection to country, culture, community and kin are instrumental in Indigenous wellbeing.

Method: The inspiration for WellMob came from frontline health and wellbeing workers who needed a central place for safe culturally relevant online wellbeing resources. WellMob was developed with a co-design process under the guidance of Indigenous reference groups. As well as giving the website’s development Indigenous governance, the project was led by Indigenous staff at the University Centre of Rural Health (part of University of Sydney) under the eMHPrac service in collaboration with the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.

Results and Findings: WellMob now has of over 200 videos, apps, podcasts and other websites on Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing. Since its launch in July 2020, WellMob has had a strong uptake with an average of 1000-page views a week. A culturally-based social media campaign has also directed new traffic to the website and the Facebook page now has over 2,500 followers. User surveys are currently underway.

Discussion: Whilst the primary audience for this website is Indigenous frontline SEWB workers and their clients/communities, the website is helpful for non-Indigenous health practitioners who work with Indigenous clients. Many resources found on WellMob are narrative-style videos, podcasts, social media and story-based content that contribute to a sense of cultural connection and wellbeing. This innovative website is a significant resource to assist with the improvement of physical health of people living with mental illness in Indigenous communities.