Citation

Penn DL, Simpson L, Edie G, Leggett S, Wood L, Hawgood J, Krysinska K, Yellowless P, De Leo D. Health Informatics J. 2005; 11(4): 275-293.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1460458205058755

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Communication and information technologies can reduce the barriers of distance and space that disadvantage communities in Australia's underserved rural areas, where the health status of residents is often worse than that of their urban counterparts. ACROSSnet (Australians Creating Rural Online Support Systems) is a 3 year collaborative action research project that aims to design and develop an online support system that will assist rural communities in accessing information, education and support regarding suicide and its prevention, whilst considering the challenges of Internet speed, cost and availability that can impede the delivery of online services. The site provides three distinct levels of access: one level for community members, and two further levels for appropriately credentialled mental health workers. In creating this environment, the ACROSSnet team hopes that online communities of practice will develop, engaging participants of different ages, income and education levels, location, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Copyright © 2005 SAGE Publications.

Language: en

Keywords

Australia; Internet; age; suicide; technology; education; Suicide prevention; health services research; article; rural area; urban area; health care delivery; socioeconomics; interpersonal communication; mental health service; health status; accreditation; health care personnel; staff training; income; medical information system; Online support; Rural communities; online system; access to information; Mental health workers; process design; process development