# The Essential Network (TEN): consulting stakeholders and experts to better understand implementation of a blended care mental health support services for Australian health professionals

## TL;DR

The study explores how to improve a blended mental health service for Australian health professionals by consulting stakeholders and experts on barriers and solutions.

## Contribution

The study identifies blended care as optimal and highlights peer endorsement and information overload as key factors for service uptake.

## Key findings

- Digital services are most effective when combined with person-to-person support in a blended care model.
- Peer endorsement is crucial for encouraging health professionals to use mental health services.
- Confidentiality concerns and information overload are significant barriers to service engagement.

## Abstract

The Essential Network (TEN) is a blended care mental health support service for Australian health professionals. We conducted a series of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and researchers to understand health professionals’ needs, canvas suggested changes to TEN, and examine methods of improving service uptake.

Nine semi-structured individual or group interviews were conducted with 10 TEN stakeholders (external stakeholders) and eight interviews were conducted with 18 researchers or related roles with experience implementing or evaluating mental health services for health professionals (internal experts). De-identified transcripts were thematically analysed using an inductive and deductive approach.

Participants highlighted the need for confidentiality, with mandatory reporting concerns being a key barrier to health professionals engaging with mental health services. External stakeholders viewed digital services as advantageous due to accessibility and anonymity, although both groups noted that concerns around effectiveness were a barrier to engagement with digital services. Both groups agreed that peer endorsement was key to implementation.

Digital services were viewed as promising, but best employed alongside person-to-person options in a blended care format. Services that address the unique workplace culture of healthcare, including stigma and systemic barriers to help-seeking, can create effective and scalable support for health professionals.

What is already known about this topic:

(1) Health professionals are at a greater risk of poor mental health compared to the general public.

(2) The COVID-19 pandemic has placed further strain upon health professionals, highlighting the need for more tailored mental health services.

(3) Cultural and systemic issues exist within healthcare that act as barriers to help-seeking.

What this topic adds:

(1) Digital services were viewed as best employed alongside person-to-person services in a blended care format.

(2) In addition to already established barriers, the volume of information health professionals receive may have obscured information about relevant support services.

(3) Peer endorsement was seen as crucial to effectively driving the usage of mental health support services for health professionals.