2.1.2. Just A Thought

Just a Thought was launched in September 2019 and provides free access to online psychological education and support to New Zealanders (see www.justathought.co.nz). Just a Thought is a self-funded entity of the Wise Group, one of New Zealand's largest non-government mental health care providers. The service currently provides culturally-adapted versions of two THIS WAY UP courses: the generalised anxiety course and the depression course. Adaptations of the original courses did not alter CBT components but included tailoring of design features, character personas and language to the New Zealand context (e.g., incorporating national colloquiums, semantics, symbols, images, and environments [including those of Māori and Pasifika peoples]). Cultural adaptations are thought to support the acceptability, effectiveness, and appropriateness of mental health interventions (see Gearing et al., 2013; Spanhel et al., 2020). Courses are only available to New Zealand residents aged ≥16 years with both course available as self-guided or guided by the user's clinician in routine care settings. Just a Thought does not have additional exclusion criteria, however, makes recommendations that people who are experiencing severe distress and/or suicidal ideation, or are utilising medications with overly sedating side effects may not benefit or may require additional support from a clinician. No referral is required to access the courses. To encourage broad public utilisation of the service, Just a Thought undertook nation-wide marketing and promotional activities during its launch, including support and promotion by government. Secondary promotional efforts were directed towards healthcare workers and encouraged integration of courses into routine care. During the first COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand in April 2020, the Ministry of Health partial funded the development of Just a Thought's specific COVID-19 course called ‘Staying on Track’. This course was included in New Zealand's initial psychosocial response to the pandemic which resulted in extensive national promotion of Just a Thought from April to September 2020 (specifically, direct-to-public promotion via print, television, online and/or radio media outlets, as well as marketing across a range of government and non-governmental public health organisations).