A recent paper published in the Advances
in Mental Health Journal highlights the potential for
online mental health services to address the persistent challenge
of facilitating help-seeking in young people.
Considerable investment over the last decade in strategies to
improve mental health and wellbeing in Australia has seen a notable
increase in the availability and awareness of youth-specific mental
health services as well as an increase in mental health literacy
among young people. However, national statistics do not reflect a
corresponding increase in help-seeking behaviour among young
people. There is limited understanding of how services can promote
effective help-seeking in young people - particularly those young
people experiencing marginalisation or high levels of psychological
distress.
This paper presents findings from a study of young people's use
of the online service, ReachOut.com, to examine if and how the
service promotes help-seeking. We find that ReachOut.com
effectively engages young people - particularly those who are
experiencing high levels of psychological distress and supports
young people to become service ready. Targeted strategies for young
men and other hard-to-reach groups as well as further integration
with on and offline clinical services are likely to strengthen and
systematise the role of ReachOut.com as a gateway service,
supporting young people to seek professional support.
Read the full article online:
ReachOut.com:
the role of an online service for promoting help-seeking in young
people
Philippa J Collin, Atari T Metcalf, Justine C
Stephens-Reicher, Michelle E Blanchard, Helen E Herrman, Kitty
Rahilly, Jane M Burns