Internet-based Mental Health Services in Norway and Sweden: Characteristics and Consequences

Abstract

Internet-based mental health services increase rapidly. However, national surveys are incomplete and the consequences for such services are poorly discussed. This study describes characteristics of 60 Internet-based mental health services in Norway and Sweden and discusses their social consequences. More than half of the services were offered by voluntary organisations and targeted towards young people. Professionals answered service users' questions in 60% of the services. Eight major themes were identified. These characteristics may indicate a shift in the delivery of mental health services in both countries, and imply changes in the understanding of mental health.

State of the e-mental health field in Australia: Where are we now?

“…Over the last 5 years, e-health solutions have been legitimised via implementation into national health systems. For example, Norway and Sweden now offer Internet-based mental health services (Andersen and Svensson, 2011). Australia has just established a web portal that offers a range of federally funded online interventions and connects users to a range of web-based mental health services (see www.mindhealthconnect.org.au/).…”

Web-Based Interventions for Youth Internalizing Problems: A Systematic Review

“…9 Adolescents are also the most frequent users of Internet-based mental health sites. 10 Media use is also pervasive among children, with 22% of 5-to 8-year-olds using a computer at least daily and 52% having access to a smartphone, iPod, or iPad in 2011. 11 Psychological interventions that use the Internet or mobile apps may be especially attractive to youth in need of mental health services.…”

Reaching out to people struggling with their lives: a discourse analysis of answers from Internet-based services in Norway and Sweden

“…Studies indicate that the use of Internet-based services increases29 and complements contact with regular mental health services 30–33. Thus, Internet-based services may be viewed as a first step towards a more conventional mental health system that emphasizes an interconnection between health care providers 12. However, this answer remains difficult and ambiguous.…”