Abstract
BackgroundAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experience high rates of mental illness and psychological distress compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. E-mental health tools offer an opportunity for accessible, effective, and acceptable treatment. The AIMhi Stay Strong app and the ibobbly suicide prevention app are treatment tools designed to combat the disproportionately high levels of mental illness and stress experienced within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members’ experiences of using two culturally responsive e-mental health apps and identify factors that influence the acceptability of these approaches.MethodsUsing qualitative methods aligned with a phenomenological approach, we explored the acceptability of two culturally responsive e-mental health apps through a series of three 3-hour focus groups with nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. Thematic analysis was conducted and coresearcher and member checking were used to verify findings.ResultsFindings suggest strong support for the concept of e-mental health apps and optimism for their potential. Factors that influenced acceptability related to three key themes: personal factors (eg, motivation, severity and awareness of illness, technological competence, and literacy and language differences), environmental factors (eg, community awareness, stigma, and availability of support), and app characteristics (eg, ease of use, content, graphics, access, and security and information sharing). Specific adaptations, such as local production, culturally relevant content and graphics, a purposeful journey, clear navigation, meaningful language, options to assist people with language differences, offline use, and password protection may aid uptake.ConclusionsWhen designed to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, e-mental health tools add an important element to public health approaches for improving the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Highlights
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experience mental illness at higher rates than non-Indigenous Australians (Hunter et al, 2012)
Research aims and approach This study aimed to explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members’ experiences of using two culturally responsive e-mental health apps and to identify factors which influence the acceptability of these approaches
This study aimed to explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members’ experiences of using two culturally responsive e-mental health apps and identify factors which influence the acceptability of these approaches
Summary
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experience mental illness at higher rates than non-Indigenous Australians (Hunter et al, 2012). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Service Access Poor social determinants of health contribute to higher rates of psychological distress for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (3 times) compared to non-Indigenous Australians [1]. Factors that influence acceptability related to three key themes: personal factors, such as motivation, severity and awareness of illness, technological competence and literacy and language differences; environmental factors, such as community awareness, stigma and availability of support; and app characteristics, such as ease of use, content, graphics, access and security and information sharing Specific adaptions, such as local production, culturally relevant content and graphics, a purposeful journey, clear navigation, meaningful language, options to assist people with language differences, offline use and password protection may aid uptake. Conclusions: When designed to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, e-mental health tools add an important element to public health approaches to improving the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
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