Online CBT-based skills courses.

[Action-On-Depression]

I spotted the post about the variety of ways you can access CBT and now it's appearing in various forms and has done for a while. There are a few reasons for this, one is cost, two is accessibility (remoteness, disability) and three is choice.

There are two main differences to notice in CBT interventions other than 1:1. For instance our course is advertised as 'CBT-based' which means that it is not delivered by a trained CBT therapist, but that the concepts of CBT are turned in to materials either for download, books, CD's and online interactive versions. The idea being that the materials help you do most of the work and the guide/coach/mentor is there to 'support' you with the programme.

Our course is available and funded for those people living in Scotland with internet access and are happy to talk on the phone.

See: actionondepression.org/serv... and actionondepression.org/serv...

We monitor and evaluate the whole programme and for those who complete ALL 6 sessions there is an improvement in mood and anxiety of just over 50%. So it shows that is does work for the right people who feel it would be appropriate for them. We also promote it more for those with mild to moderate depression and anxiety although we have seen good results in those with more severe depression if they have good enough motivation and concentration to be able to work through the materials.

The others around are

* llttf.com - written by the same Dr who has developed our programme

* llttf.tv/ - Living Life TV, same Dr as above

* moodgym.anu.edu.au - MoodGym is an Australian programme available world-wide

* beatingtheblues.co.uk/ - Beating the Blues available free to certain NHS areas in England, Wales and Scotland, but people outwith those areas can pay

* fearfighter.com/ - Similar to Beating the Blues, but focuses more on anxeity and panic

* expertpatients.co.uk/expert... - Quite new to the whole on support area, but focuses on self-management. Doesn't say what areas, but you can get in contact to find out more.

* bemindfulonline.com/ - Mindfulness by MIND

* thewellnessshop.co.uk/ - The Wellness Shop - cost money.

* nhs24.com/UsefulResources/L... - Living Life from NHS24 in Scotland. Telephone CBT and Guided Self-Help

So, there is a whole variety, but we must stipulate that is has to be what's right for you and it's worth giving it a try. If it's not your thing, then that's ok, because often it is trial and error and that's what makes it difficult in treating quite stubborn depression and anxiety conditions.

Anyone in Scotland wanting to give ours a go, you're more then welcome to get in touch. [e-mail]

There are 3 elements to ours, 1. The online part, 2. The workbooks and 3 Telephone Support.

Catherine

e-health Officer

Action on Depression

[sasays]

Thank so much for the info Catherine x

[Hidden]

I think it's apalling that many voluntary organisations are setting up alternative forms of 'treatment' which have to be paid for when people are entitled to treatment under the NHS. I think such orgnisations should be enabling people to get the services they are already entitled to and not setting themselves up as businesses in competition with the NHS as people who are desperate will pay rather than wait and as a result NHS services will reduce over time.

[Action-On-Depression]

It's a fair point 'secondhandrose' but you will find that they can't set themselves up as a business and be a voluntary organisation as the stipulation of being a charity is that any money that is made from services/activities has to go directly back in to the charity. When it comes to their yearly audit they can't be seen to have made ANY profit. They'd be stripped of their charity nos. The NHS get billions to provide services, charities get a lot less but are also often funded from similar streams to the NHS. If something is 'funded' it's free, if it's something a charity charges for then it means that they haven't been funded for it, either because they can't (competition for funding is tight) or because it's cost the charity a lot of money.

e.g. we provide our course for free, we've been funded to purchase the licences for each person so at the moment it's ok. As our funding is yearly and we're often asked to be creative and be less reliant on gov/trust/foundation funding if the we didn't get money for the licences the programme would finish. If we charged on a sliding scale of ability to pay we can still reach people who need it and the success and value of the course continues.

People are entitled to free treatment under the NHS, but many are telling us they are not getting it, they're waiting months and months for assessments etc. most voluntary organisation now have a mix of paid for services and free services to create a balance for those who can't afford to pay. We also work 'with' the NHS, so we are not in direct competition, we are complementing their services and vice-versa. In fact we have some funding ourselves from the NHS to support their work because of waiting times etc.

It's a very complex area which I don't know the full in's and out's of, but we all need to work together rather than separately and try and help as many people as we can. But vol orgs are certainly not out to 'make' money as they are not allowed to.

HTH

Catherine

e-health Officer

Action on Depression

[Hidden in reply to Action-On-Depression]

Hi, my point wasn't about whether serives are charged for but about the whole ethos of offering services that should be and are available within the NHS - I think other organisations should be offering advice and support but also putting pressure to ensure people get what they are already entitled to.

[Action-On-Depression in reply to Hidden]

I'm not sure the NHS has the capacity to offer all the services that they should be offering and with all the cuts I'm sure they're really struggling. Unfortunately charities can only get funding for providing services, not just offering support and advice. Every application we make has to highlight what we are going to provide, to how many people, geographically and what the targets and outcomes of these will be. Then at the end of the funding we have to give details of what we did and if we achieved the outcomes set out in the application. If the support and advice is part of a particular service then that's ok, but it can't be out there on its own, it's got to be part of something. I guess it's about giving people choice and I'm sure NHS and voluntary organisations can work well together and individually.

Catherine

e-health Officer

Action on Depression

[SueBeeSue]

Thanks for this information Catherine. It's really helpful. I would love to take a CBT course and have been offered this option unde the NHS but unfortunately the timings are just not practical for me, so an online option would be a great help. If I do start one, I will blog about it and say what I find useful (and not so useful) and if others want to share their experiences that would be great too. Sue

[Hidden]

Is this only available free in Scotland? I live in England and am on benefits.

[Action-On-Depression]

Hi hypercat, I'm afraid ours is, but if you have a look at "Beating the Blues" you can find out if this is being delivered in your area by the NHS. You can also do quite a lot of the ones without telephone support, many of which are free.