Rural and remote communities, technology and mental health recovery
| Published date | 09 May 2016 |
| Pages | 170-181 |
| Date | 09 May 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-10-2015-0033 |
| Author | Oliver K. Burmeister,Edwina Marks |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information & communications technology |
Rural and remote communities,
technology and mental
health recovery
Oliver K. Burmeister
School of Computing and Mathematics, Charles Sturt University,
Bathurst, Australia, and
Edwina Marks
Barkly Regional Council, Tennant Creek, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to explore how health informatics can underpin the successful delivery of
recovery-orientated healthcare, in rural and remote regions, to achieve better mental health outcomes.
Recovery is an extremely social process that involves being with others and reconnecting with the
world.
Design/methodology/approach – An interpretivist study involving 27 clinicians and 13 clients
sought to determine how future expenditure on ehealth could improve mental health treatment and
service provision in the western Murray Darling Basin of New South Wales, Australia.
Findings – Through the use of targeted ehealth strategies, it is possible to increase both the
accessibility of information and the quality of service provision. In small communities, the challenges of
distance, access to healthcare and the ease of isolating oneself are best overcome through a combination
of technology and communal social responsibility. Technology supplements but cannot completely
replace face-to-face interaction in the mental health recovery process.
Originality/value – The recovery model provides a conceptual framework for health informatics in
rural and remote regions that is socially responsible. Service providers can affect better recovery for
clients through infrastructure that enables timely and responsive remote access whilst driving between
appointments. This could include interactive referral services, telehealth access to specialist clinicians,
GPS for locating clients in remote areas and mobile coverage for counselling sessions in “real time”.
Thus, the technology not only provides better connections but also adds to the responsiveness (and
success) of any treatment available.
Keywords Communities, Healthcare, Social responsibility, Social capital, Teleconsultations
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
New technology is changing the way mental healthcare is administered and has the
potential to increase access to services for people living in rural and remote areas.
However, its adoption and implementation needs to take place in a socially responsible
way to take account of the vulnerable nature of people suffering mental illness and the
social stigma that surrounds such illness. Although multidisciplinary care approaches
This project was funded by a grant from the Strategic Projects Branch, Department of Regional
Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Canberra. The team included Dr Ingrid
Muenstermann and Dr Merrilyn Crichton.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
JICES
14,2
170
Received 11 October 2015
Revised 11 October 2015
Accepted 21 November 2015
Journalof Information,
Communicationand Ethics in
Society
Vol.14 No. 2, 2016
pp.170-181
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/JICES-10-2015-0033
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