MindSpot Mood Mechanic Course to manage anxiety and depression - MindSpot Clinic
For information about coping with disasters (e.g., bushfires, floods, cyclones), please click HERE
If you are concerned about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please click HERE
Online assessment and treatment
for anxiety and depression
Tel. 1800 61 44 34

MindSpot Mood Mechanic Course

​The Mood Mechanic Course helps young adults aged 18–25 years learn to manage mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The Mood Mechanic Course aims to support you to gain better control over your symptoms, improve your confidence and learn skills to help you get the most out of life.

The Mood Mechanic Course consists of five lessons over eight weeks. It provides the information and skills that you would normally receive from a mental health professional. You can choose to receive weekly therapist support during the course, or you can choose to contact us when you need to. The course aims to help people learn to break unhelpful habits and learn the following core psychological skills:

  • How to recognise the cycle of symptoms involved in anxiety and depression
  • How to break the cycle of symptoms of anxiety and depression
  • How to recognise and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs
  • How to recognise and manage physical symptoms of panic and exhaustion
  • How to gain confidence by learning to safely confront things you have been avoiding
  • How to stay well once the course has finished

The Mood Mechanic Course is recommended for people who:

  • Are 18–25 years of age
  • Are Australian residents
  • Experience symptoms of low mood, depression, stress, social anxiety, panic attacks or excessive worry
  • Have at least four hours a week to spend working on the course and practicing the skills.

The Mood Mechanic Course is not suitable for people who:

If you have very severe symptoms we strongly recommend that you see a GP, a headspace centre and/or a psychologist or psychiatrist for assessment and treatment.

You can find out if you are eligible for this course by completing the MindSpot Online Assessment.

  • Around 2,000 people have completed the Mood Mechanic Course at MindSpot.
  • On average, people’s symptoms of anxiety and depression reduce by 45–55%.
  • 95% of people say they would recommend the course.
  • Versions of the Mood Mechanic Course were trialled at the eCentreClinic in clinical trials with more than 200 people. The results of these trials were strong and were sustained at least three months after the course finished.
  • People who read at least three of the five lessons are likely to make good improvements.

Next steps

Development of the Mood Mechanic Course was funded by a Project Grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). This course was written by Professor Nick Titov and Associate Professor Blake Dear.​