Outcomes from the beyondblue NewAccess program

Background: The Doncaster trial had shown the efficacy
of low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for
mild to moderate depression in the United Kingdom. In
2008, together with funding from ‘Movember’, beyondblue
embarked on a program to examine the fit of the successful
Doncaster model, then adapt it for Australia, and to test
the effectiveness of its low-intensity CBT therapy approach
in the Australian community.
Objectives: Establish if a place existed for a low-intensity
psychological treatment service in Australia, and if so, to
test its suitability for the Australian community.
Methods: Beginning with a feasibility study and then
a national seminar, three Australian sites were chosen
to establish pilot programs in the community. A new
workforce of low-intensity coaches who had no prior
mental health professional experience was trained in
interventions based on CBT for anxiety and depression,
social prescribing and community signposting. Under close
supervision within a web-based outcome Patient Case
Management Information System (PC-MIS), the three
varied sites successfully established themselves and clinical
and cost outcomes were evaluated.
Findings: Over the first 20 months of the trial, 1571
consented to participate in the trial and 1096 completed
at least three sessions. Of those who were defined as
‘cases’ at the start, 67.5% recovered. The average number
of sessions was 4.8. The cost–benefit ratio was 1.5, and
the cost per treatment service for mild to moderate
depression and anxiety was significantly less than the
estimated costs of treatment with the better outcomes
system.
Conclusions: NewAccess was a successful and highly
cost-effective service and Australian adaptation of the UK
low-intensity model.