Access widens for mental health help
A GOLD Coast start-up is engaging previously reluctant sections of the community to ask for mental health services through the power of text messaging.
Virtual Psychologist is the brainchild of 19-year industry veteran Dervla Loughnane.
In 13 months it has gained millions of dollars in funding from federal and state governments as well as community organisations and the corporate sector.
Last year it was given more than $1 million by the Federal Government for a 24-hour SMS and phone counselling service for rural and remote communities. In 2017 it won a $72,000 grant from Optus after she pitched the idea through the telco’s Future Makers program.
Virtual Psychologist has serviced 1400 clients, handled more than 20,000 text messages through Facebook messenger, WhatsApp, and other platforms, and participated in 10 active rescues of suicidal people.
Ms Loughnane said the idea for a texting service came to her three years ago when she attended the scene of an 18-year-old man who had committed suicide.
“He was just 18 years old and next to him was his mobile phone. We checked his records and he made no attempt to call for help,” she said.
“It was at that stage, I wondered: Was it too confronting to phone? Would a simple text have saved his life?”
Ms Loughnane said she quit her job and began working on the idea that would become Virtual Psychologist.
Many services existing for people seeking mental health support services.
They include Lifeline, Kids Helpline, beyondblue Support Service and Suicide Call Back Service.
However, they generally involve making a phone call, and Ms Loughnane said this is anathema to many people.
“We know there is a percentage of the population that does not use the phone or face to face but will use text services,” she said. “We get a lot of men using the service. They feel less embarrassed asking for help via text because it is non-confrontational and non-judgmental. They feel they have a lot more control, there is no stigma over it.”
A survey found that 47.5 per cent of people in the corporate sector and 60 per cent from the rural and remote sector would not have reached out for psychological help if text counselling had not been available.
Ms Loughnane said she was frequently questioned as to whether the lack of faceto-face contact is an impediment to providing an effective service.
But she said it was sometimes the opposite case. People would say things via text that they would never disclose in a face-to-face situation.
“The speed at which they do it is a lot quicker. If I have a suicidal person, they will text and within the first five minutes will say, I am thinking of taking my own life. If they were in front of me they are less likely to be as honest.”
Ms Loughnane said her start-up, which is based at the Gold Coast Hub at Robina, has a team of nine staff, most of whom are psychologists.
The average session lasts 67 minutes and 26 text messages.
Ms Loughnane, who was born in Zimbabwe and recently expanded the service to New Zealand, said her goal was to expand Virtual Psychologist to Africa.