title: The promise and the reality: a mental health workforce perspective on technology-enhanced youth mental health service delivery.
abstract: Digital technologies show promise for reversing poor engagement of youth (16-24 years) with mental health services. In particular, mobile and internet based applications with communication capabilities can augment face-to-face mental health service provision. The literature in this field, however, fails to adequately capture the perspectives of the youth mental health workforce regarding utility and acceptability of technology for this purpose.
  
  
  
  This paper describes results of in-depth qualitative data drawn from various stakeholders involved in provision of youth mental health services in one Australian rural region. Data were obtained using focus groups and semi-structured interviews with regional youth mental health clinicians, youth workers and support/management staff (n = 4 focus groups; n = 8 interviews) and analysed via inductive thematic analysis.
  
  
  
  Results question the acceptability of technology to engage clients within youth mental health services. Six main themes were identified: young people in a digital age, personal connection, power and vulnerability, professional identity, individual factors and organisational legitimacy.
  
  
  
  These findings deepen the understanding of risks and challenges faced when adopting new technologies in mental healthcare. Recommendations for technology design and implementation in mental health services are made.
authors.affiliation: Flinders Human Behaviour & Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia. simone.orlowski@flinders.edu.au.|Young and Well, Cooperative Research Centre, Abbotsford, VIC, Australia. simone.orlowski@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orlowski
authors.affiliation: Flinders Human Behaviour & Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lawn
authors.affiliation: School of Information Technology & Electrical Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Flinders Human Behaviour & Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venning
authors.affiliation: Flinders Human Behaviour & Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Kaisha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wyld
authors.affiliation: Country and Outback Health, Kadina, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Flinders Human Behaviour & Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.|Young and Well, Cooperative Research Centre, Abbotsford, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winsall
authors.affiliation: Flinders Human Behaviour & Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.|Young and Well, Cooperative Research Centre, Abbotsford, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Gaston
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antezana
authors.affiliation: Flinders Human Behaviour & Health Research Unit, Flinders University, Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.affiliation: Young and Well, Cooperative Research Centre, Abbotsford, VIC, Australia.|Personal Health Informatics, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bidargaddi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008490:Medical Informatics; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D019035:Rural Health Services; D013021:South Australia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Design; Implementation; Mental Health; Rural Youth; Technology