10th November 2022

International innovation leadership award for Just a Thought clinical lead

Just a Thought clinical lead Anna Elders has been awarded the 2022 eMental Health Innovation Leadership Award for New Zealand.

This prestigious annual award recognises one person or organisation for their outstanding contribution, commitment and leadership in the sustainable implementation of eMental Health solutions at scale. 

Through her role as clinical lead for online eCBT tool, Just a Thought, Anna has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the uptake of this free service in both primary and secondary care. With 3,000 prescribing clinicians and nearly 50,000 course sign-ups in its first three years of operation, Just a Thought is now considered one of New Zealand's leading eMental Health tools. 

Anna is also the chair of the Digital Wellbeing Industry Group – a special interest group of the Digital Health Association. Through this role, Anna has been an instrumental driving force in the development of a disruptive 'think tank' paper in collaboration with New Zealand’s digital mental health and wellbeing community, that is set to spur momentum and help drive strategic leadership in this space. 

With her feet still firmly on the ground in primary care, Anna continues to work part-time in clinical practice as a mental health nurse practitioner at Tāmaki Health. She’s also an honorary teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, specialising in psychological interventions, trauma-informed care and digital mental health solutions. 

Just a Thought General Manager, Charlie David, says the award is a well-deserved recognition for Anna’s hard work and dedication in the eMental Health space.  

“We're so thrilled for Anna. Her passion and leadership as clinical lead on the Just a Thought team has made mental health support more accessible to tens of thousands of New Zealanders, and significantly progressed eMental Health in Aotearoa New Zealand.” 

eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) Executive Director, Anil Thapliyal, nominated Anna for this award and says she is a visionary leader who has worked tirelessly to build equitable outcomes for New Zealanders seeking mental health support. 

"Anna is an exceptionally worthy recipient of such a national honour, which will also see her inducted into eMHIC's International eMental Health Hall of Fame,” says Anil. 

“Her strong vision, passion, commitment and dedication to get the practical implementation right in both primary care and the public health space is simply legendary, infectious and refreshing.” 

Anna says it's an absolute privilege to work alongside global leaders in digital mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand, and to have the work being done here in our little nation recognised internationally. 

"This award is really a recognition of the willingness within our community to collaborate and the great work our amazing team at Just a Thought produces. It's an exciting time in our space, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the incredible work currently going on within it." 

The award ceremony took place last night in Auckland at the eMental Health International Congress 2022, where Anna presented on collaboration (whakawhenaungatanga) for success – specifically how Just a Thought networks and collaborates to extend ours and others' capabilities.  

Anna was joined by an unparalleled line up of local and international speakers who each shared experiences, lessons and insights from their respective jurisdictions, continuing to cultivate a strong culture of global collaboration within the eMental health industry.