‘Staying on Track’ is the latest free online course developed by our Just a Thought team in partnership with the Ministry of Health, to enhance New Zealanders’ emotional wellbeing through the current COVID-19 situation.
Just a Thought Programme Lead, Charlie David says the new ‘Staying on Track’ course is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, which introduces practical strategies to help people cope with the worry and disruption of day-to-day life from the impacts of the COVID-19 situation.
He says the tool is free for New Zealanders to support them during the COVID-19 situation and beyond.
The tool covers lessons to help someone interact differently with their thoughts and identify behaviours that can help enhance their wellbeing.
Lessons cover topics such as how to manage worry, stay active, manage insomnia, tips for staying connected to self and others, problem-solving and more.
‘Staying on Track’ can be accessed through a desktop or mobile device and by signing up at justathought.co.nz/COVID19.
Since Just a Thought’s launch in September last year, close to 10,000 New Zealanders have signed up to access a free course. This includes more than 1000 health professionals who’ve registered to prescribe Just a Thought to their patients.
Just a Thought programme lead, Charlie David, says feedback on the Just a Thought tool since its launch has been extremely positive and the rate of growth shows that New Zealanders have a need for highly flexible and immediately accessible mental health support.
“Given the lockdown situation, access to digital treatment options ensures people can get the emotional and mental wellbeing support they need when they need it,” says Charlie David.
He says the Just A Thought courses are based on clinical evidence on the benefits of CBT from overseas and while it’s still early to capture New Zealand data, feedback from respondents who have done the course has been encouraging, with 82 per cent of respondents reporting that they’ve been satisfied with their experience using Just a Thought to improve their wellbeing.
For some, Just a Thought has been their first opportunity to access cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Here’s what one participant had to say:
“I have been told I would benefit from CBT many times, but because it’s expensive to do I haven’t been able to get the help. I’ve really appreciated the opportunity to do this course.”
Along with the new ‘Staying on Track’ course, Just a Thought also currently offers courses in depression and anxiety. Other courses will be available in the next couple of years which will include mixed depression and anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress, health anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, chronic pain, TeenStrong (a course aimed at teenagers experiencing depression and anxiety), coping with stress, introduction to mindfulness and managing insomnia.
Published on: 15 April 2020