Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Jacinta Collins got a sneak preview of a new online treatment for young people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), when she visited Curtin University this morning.<\/p>\n
Curtin University researchers are developing the OCD? Not Me!<\/em> program, which is a Teleweb project, with the assistance of a $464,476 grant from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.<\/p>\n The program has been funded for two-and-a-half years and the online service is aimed specifically at young people aged between 12 and 18.<\/p>\n Associate Professor Clare Rees, the principal investigator on the project alongside co-investigator Dr Rebecca Anderson, said people with OCD became preoccupied with negative thoughts and behaviours that could control their lives.<\/p>\n \u201cThey may have rituals or strong compulsions to do certain things repeatedly, in order to banish daunting thoughts,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can include repeated hand washing, checking of doors, switches and appliances, to having to complete mental checklists or keep objects in straight lines.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen OCD is severe, the obsessions can be extremely distressing for a young person and impacts their academic, social and family life.\u201d<\/p>\n Minister Collins said around three in every 100 people \u2013 or more than 450,000 Australians \u2013 would develop OCD at some time in their lives.<\/p>\n \u201cThe OCD? Not me!<\/em> program being developed at Curtin University is part of our first ever national e-mental health strategy that is delivering cost-effective help to thousands of Australians in their homes,\u201d Minister Collins said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Labor Government has committed a record $2.2 billion to mental health reform over five years to expand accessibility of evidence-based mental health services and build a cohesive mental health system.\u201d<\/p>\n The program will provide techniques and tips for families to help them assist young people to overcome the anxiety disorder.<\/p>\n Associate Professor Rees said online treatments were a cost-effective, flexible, accessible way for clients to receive treatment, especially for people who were reluctant to undertake face-to-face therapy or who lacked access to services.<\/p>\n “The service will include a national referral network so that individuals needing additional help will be linked to useful facilities in their area,” she said.<\/p>\n The service is free and fully automated, with potential participants undertaking an online assessment to evaluate their suitability for the program.<\/p>\n If you would like to register your interest, visit ocdnotme.com.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Jacinta Collins got a sneak preview of a new online treatment for young people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), when she visited Curtin University this morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4275,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_research-areas":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"research-areas":[],"class_list":["post-18152","media-release","type-media-release","status-publish","hentry","category-research"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"additional_content":{"title":"Media Contact","content":" Simon White, Media Consultant, Curtin University
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