Many adults with diabetes experience a range of complications such as chronic kidney conditions and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
However, perhaps what is less well known, but affects a staggering 50 per cent of people living with diabetes, are mental health challenges[1]. These include depression, anxiety and eating disorders as well as diabetes distress, which is the negative emotional experiences resulting from the challenges of living with the demands of diabetes. This can include feelings of anxiety, guilt and burnout.
This in turn can lead to reduced engagement with managing their diabetes, such as taking medication regularly and on time, maintaining a healthy diet, physical activity and glucose monitoring.
The LISTEN program, developed by researchers at the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD), a partnership between Deakin University and Diabetes Victoria, is designed to address the emotional side of living with diabetes.
LISTEN, which stands for Low Intensity mental health Support via Telehealth Enabled Network, provides a telehealth solution for integrated mental health and diabetes self-management support. The program is facilitated by trained diabetes health professionals, such as diabetes educators, and focuses on enhancing healthy coping, such as problem-solving skills.
In 2021, the ACBRD research team secured a $748,484 award through the inaugural round of the Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) Research Projects opportunity and a further $700,000 in partner support (cash and in-kind) from Diabetes Australia, Diabetes Victoria and The Australian Diabetes Educators Association. The opportunity was delivered by MTPConnect, alongside invaluable support from TTRA Partner, Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI)[2].
The TTRA funding enabled the researchers to clinically evaluate LISTEN over two years to ensure it is a feasible, useful and cost-effective solution for improving mental health outcomes in adults with diabetes.
This important research generated the robust evidence needed to inform the clinical and commercial translation of LISTEN into a sustainable service with a lasting positive impact on the mental health of people with diabetes and CVD.
Find out more about the results of the trial and the positive impact the program has had on those people who participated in the LISTEN sessions in this detailed case study.
And watch the video to find out more! LISTEN VIDEO
[1] https://www.diabetesaustralia….
[2] The TTRA program has partnered with specialist organisations to provide translation advice and support to awarded projects. AusHSI provides specialist behavioural intervention support.