Improving the mental health of Australians with diabetes and cardiovascular disease

LISTEN is the world’s first national helpline providing low-intensity mental health support via telehealth directly to adults with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Around 50% of people with diabetes and CVD experience mental health problems. With the support of funding through the Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) initiative, the ACBRD1 will trial a novel, low-intensity mental health support program delivered via telehealth.

LISTEN (Low Intensity mental health Support via Telehealth Enabled Network) is an evidence-based intervention, that promotes self-help and skills development. The program will be delivered by allied health professionals servicing the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) Helpline. Adults with diabetes and CVD will have access to up to four (45-60 minute) LISTEN sessions.

This 2-year project, led by Dr Christel Hendrieckx and Dr Edith Holloway, will enable us to evaluate if LISTEN is a feasible, effective and cost-effective solution for improving mental health in adults with diabetes and CVD. This important research will generate the evidence needed by our partners – Diabetes Australia/NDSS, Diabetes Victoria and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association – to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of LISTEN, and inform its translation into a sustainable service.

LISTEN was one of seven diabetes and CVD research projects2 awarded funding through the TTRA Projects Round 1 initiative3 announced by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, on 23 September 2021.

The LISTEN project also receives cash and in-kind support from our partners, Diabetes Australia/NDSS, Diabetes Victoria and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association.

In addition to Deakin University, collaborative academic partners in the study include La Trobe University.

For further information about this project, please e-mail: info@acbrd.org.au

Funding

Our Partners

Notes:

  1. The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes is a partnership for better health between Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University. It sits within the School of Psychology and the Deakin Institute for Health Transformation.
  2. TTRA Research Projects Round 1 Funding Awarded to Deakin University’s Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes – ‘Low Intensity mental health Support via a Telehealth Enabled Network (LISTEN) for adults with diabetes and CVD: Effectiveness and scalability’
  3. The TTRA program is a $47 million Medical Research Future Fund initiative, delivered by MTPConnect.