Brittany Hanson, 21, studies Family Social Science at the
University of Minnesota. She currently interns with ReachOut.com in
Australia. In this article, Brittany discusses her experience of
providing support via the ReachOut.com forums, and the value
expressed by young people she's engaged with.
Forums have provided people of all ages an online
community where you can connect over similar interests, talk with
people from all over the world and provide support for
others. Forums provide a sense of family for users,
allowing people to create online relationships based on topics of
common interest. Young people are using forums today for a variety
of different reasons. Some are looking to find friends with similar
interests, others are looking for support during a hard time. There
are thousands of different forums on the web that cover almost
every interest base. Forums can create a supportive community for a
specific interest that you may never be able to have in your
everyday life.
When young people access forums they are given the opportunity
to be anonymous and take on a new identity. It provides you with a
clean slate and a sense of security because no one knows your
history. This is not always possible with face to face communities,
cliques can arise and people can be judged upon appearance. Young
people are attracted to online communities because they can explore
their individuality, access support, and build social connectedness
without exposing themselves to stigma or judgement.
The ReachOut.com
forums provide a space for young people all over
Australia to access support and information about mental health
from peers who have been through similar tough times. On the forums
you are able to anonymously support others and talk about what is
going on in your life - both accessing support from the online
community, and giving back to it at the same time. Forums can
sometimes be the first form of contact for a person, allowing them
to reach out for help without giving away their identity. The
ReachOut.com forums provide young people with a sense of safety and
security because you can share your personal stories and feelings
without being judged or criticised. Creating supportive
relationships on the forums encourages young people to continue to
use the forums, and if / when they are ready or need it they can be
connected with appropriate professional support services by
moderators in the ReachOut.com community.
What online forums or support communities have you used
with young people, and what was your experience?
Take a look at some of ReachOut Pro's other resources, that
help you to understand and use online communities with young
people: