Anna Mackenzie, Reach Out Project Manager, provides a brief
update on the program that has made such an impact on the lives of
so many young Australians going through tough times...
Happy 2010 + update from ReachOut.com
Happy New Year from the Reach Out crew! We thought it was high
time we dropped in to say 'hi' to Pro members and to give you a bit
of an update about where things are up to on ReachOut.com and some
of our plans for 2010.
What is ReachOut.com?
As most of you would already know, ReachOut.com is a web-based
service for young people aged 14-25. It provides information,
skills development, support and resources to assist young people to
cope with mental health difficulties, manage adversity and find
ongoing support in the community. ReachOut.com provides an entry
point for all young people, enhancing their mental health literacy
and facilitating help-seeking.
Reach Out works with young people at all levels to ensure it is
a trusted and relevant program. Over 330 young people from a
variety of backgrounds have been directly involved in the
development and delivery of the service since its launch in
1999.
How many young people use the site + what do they say?
Each month Reach Out receives about 140,000 unique
visits and engages with around 250,000 young Australians
annually. Overall, youth awareness of Reach Out is over 55%, with
levels in rural and regional communities comparable to urban
locations.
Through independent research and online surveys, ReachOut.com has demonstrated
significant outcomes for young people including:
- 82% of young people learnt more about mental health issues
- 85% reported ReachOut.com is a service they trust
- 81% would tell a friend about Reach Out
- 86% would return to ReachOut.com if they were going through a
tough time.
- 59% of repeat visitors going through a tough time went to get
professional help
- 72% reported Reach Out made them feel like they were not
alone.
What's new
We continue to work towards greater interactivity and community
on the site, and hope to be able to update you about some exciting
plans for website enhancements soon.
Using Reach Out in your work
Many of you have possibly already tried out some of the
practical ideas on Reach Out Pro explaining how to use a range of
technologies before, during and after your sessions with a young person. How
have these ideas worked for you? We'd love to hear about how
ReachOut.com has been received by young people you work with, and
your ideas for adding extra value to the site.
Looking forward to hearing from you!