Consider this:
-
75% of mental illness begins before age 25 with one in five
children and adolescents diagnosed with a mental health problem
(Kendall & Kessler, 2002).
-
Australian data indicates that only 29% of these young people
contact a professional service of any type (Sawyer et al.,
2000).
-
Of the young people who do access mental health care, only 20%
enter into any type of treatment (Offer et al.,1991)
Consider also that, while youth suicide rates have declined by
56% since 1997 (ABS 2007), suicide remains one of the leading
causes of death among young people aged 15-24, alongside road and
traffic accidents.
At the same time, more young people experience high to very high
levels of psychological distress - 13% of males and 19% of
females (author date) - and lack of treatment brings major
complications including self-medication with alcohol and drugs, and
an inability to thrive socially, academically and vocationally.
At the same time, 90% of 18 to 24 year olds and 92% of 15 to 17
year olds have used the internet (ABS, 2007), while 88% of 15 to 25
year olds own a mobile phone (DCITA, 2007).The internet is
increasingly becoming the support of choice for young people, with
research demonstrating that they are actively seeking health
information and referrals through the internet and online
discussion groups (Aspden & Katz, 2001).
Young people report that an advantage of being online is that
the relationships they establish are 'discrete' in that they are
separate from their 'everyday lives' and therefore, young people
are more confident talking about sensitive or embarrassing issues
(Valentine & Holloway, 2002). Additionally, young people report
feeling more 'in control' in their interaction in the online space,
in comparison with other spheres, like school or home, which are
perceived as 'adult controlled spaces' (Valentine & Holloway,
2002).
As internet access has increased and young people are increasingly
turning to the internet for support, the online medium represents
great potential for delivering mental health support and services
to large populations of young people. Recent research suggests that
the internet supports social networks and existing social
connections both online and offline can support increased community
participation and increase the likelihood of help seeking (Boase et
al., 2006).
References
Aspden P & Katz J 2001 'Assessments of quality of health
care information and referrals to physicians: a nationwide survey'
in Rice, R E & Katz, J (eds) The Internet and Health
Communication Sage, Thousand Oaks, pp.107-119.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007. Household Use of
Information Technology, Australia 2006-7, <http:// http://www.abs.gov.au>
Boase J, Horrigan JB, Wellman B & Rainie L, 2006, The
strength of Internet ties: the Internet and email aids users in
maintaining their social networks and provide pathways to help when
people face big decisions, Pew Internet and American Life Project,
Washington DC, <http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Internet_ties.pdf>
Department of Communications Information Technology and the Arts
2005, The Current State of Play, <
http://www.dbcde.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/33120/Current_State_of_Play_-_November_2005.pdf>
Kendall P C & Kessler R C 2002, 'The impact of
childhood psychopathology interventions on subsequent substance
abuse: policy implications, comments, and recommendations', Journal
of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70 (6), pp.1303-1306.
Offer D, Howard K I, Schonert K A & Ostrov E 1991, 'To whom
do adolescents turn for help? Differences between disturbed and
nondisturbed adolescents', Journal of the American Academy of Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, pp.623-630.
Sawyer et al 2000, The Mental Health of Young People in
Australia: The Child and Adolescent Component of the National
Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being, Canberra: AGPS, 2000.
Valentine G & Holloway S 2002, 'Cyberkids? Exploring
Children's Identities and Social Networks in On-line and Off-line
Worlds', Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 2002,
92(2), pp.302-319.