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Effectiveness of a Brief Internet-Based Workplace Training Program to Support Help Seeking for Mental Ill-Health:
Philip J Batterham1, Amelia Gulliver1, Cassandra Heffernan1
1Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2600, Australia, 61 26125 ext 1031.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|August 7, 2026
Summary
The Helipad online program effectively increased employees' intentions to seek professional mental health help. However, these improvements in intentions and attitudes were not sustained long-term.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health Intervention Research
- Workplace Mental Wellbeing
- Digital Health Solutions
Background:
- Depression and anxiety are common in working adults, yet many do not seek professional help.
- Effective interventions to boost help-seeking behavior in adults, especially via online workplace delivery, are scarce.
- The study addresses the need for scalable digital mental health solutions in diverse work environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a co-designed online program (Helipad) in increasing professional help-seeking intentions among Australian employees.
- To compare the Helipad program against a standard psychoeducation program (active control).
Main Methods:
- A triple-blinded, 2-arm cluster randomized controlled trial involving 487 employees across 51 Australian workplaces.
- Participants received either the Helipad program or a psychoeducation control, completing surveys at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up.
- Outcomes assessed included help-seeking intentions, mental health literacy, stigma, attitudes, functioning, quality of life, and symptom severity.
Main Results:
- The Helipad program significantly increased professional help-seeking intentions immediately post-intervention compared to the control group (P=.001).
- Improvements in mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes were observed post-intervention but not sustained at 6-month follow-up.
- No significant differences were found between groups in stigma, behavior, functioning, quality of life, or symptom reduction at 6 months.
Conclusions:
- The co-designed Helipad program shows promise for enhancing mental health help-seeking intentions in workplace settings.
- Sustained effects and translation into behavioral changes or symptom improvement require further investigation.
- Scalable online workplace interventions could improve access to mental healthcare and potentially boost productivity.
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