An evaluation of 'Reach Out Central': an online gaming program for supporting the mental health of young people
Abstract
The objective of this study was to conduct an evaluation of Reach Out Central (ROC), an online gaming program designed to support the mental health of people aged 16-25. The evaluation sought to determine the benefit of playing ROC on alcohol use, use of coping strategies, psychological distress, resilience and satisfaction with life. Changes in mental health literacy, mental health stigma and willingness to seek help and program satisfaction were also investigated. A single group (N = 266) quasi-experimental repeated measures (pre-, post-program, 2-month follow-up) design was employed. The results demonstrated positive improvements across all outcome measures for females; however, a non-significant worsening effect was observed for males on seeking support, avoidance and resilience. Improvements for both genders were observed on mental health literacy and help-seeking. However, literacy levels and help-seeking were significantly higher, and stigma significantly lower for females. Program satisfaction ratings were high irrespective of gender. Although some inconsistencies between genders were noted, ROC appears to enhance protective factors for the prevention or early intervention of mental health disorders. The results of this study need to be viewed with its limitations in mind, specifically, the use of an open trial methodology and the small number of male participants.
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ReachOut Central was not associated with an increase in mental health literacy for males or females [68].
“ReachOut Central, however, was not associated with an increase in mental health literacy for males or females [68].”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
The majority of studies reported that the majority of participants were female.
“majority of participants were female [51,56,60,64,68,79]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
The majority of studies reported small sample size as a limitation.
“small sample size [51,52,55,60,68,78,79]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
The quasi-experimental study found a slight but significant increase in help-seeking [52,68,78,79].
“The quasi-experimental study found a slight but significant increase in help-seeking [52,68,78,79].”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
The majority of studies reported a self-selected sample, not representative and possibly biased.
“a self-selected sample, not representative and possibly biased [56,60,63,68,73,77-79]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
The quasi-experimental study [68] scored 20 by rater 1 and 29 by rater 2.
“The quasi-experimental study [68] scored 20 by rater 1 and 29 by rater 2”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
Online services appeared to increase mental health literacy [53,74-77,79], although two studies found no change in mental health literacy [68,78].
“Another interesting finding was that online services appeared to increase mental health literacy [53,74-77,79], although two studies found no change in mental health literacy [68,78].”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
Young people suggested that these services were less stigmatizing than phonelines and face-to-face services [68,79].
“were less stigmatizing than phonelines and face-to-face services [68,79]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
Young men seek online help less often than females [68,71,73].
“young men seeking online help less often than females [68,71,73]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [68]
A few others incorporated cognitive-behavior principles.
“A few others incorporated cognitive-behavior principles41–43”
From Technology-Based Interventions to Improve Help-Seeking for Mental Health Concerns: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [42]
Only one study discussed the gender differences in the type of help the participants intended to seek.
“Only one study discussed the gender differences in the type of help the participants intended to seek. 42”
From Technology-Based Interventions to Improve Help-Seeking for Mental Health Concerns: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [42]
Men were more likely to use informal sources, whereas women preferred to approach a combination of formal and informal sources.
“Reportedly, men were more likely to use informal sources, whereas women preferred to approach a combination of formal and informal sources.”
From Technology-Based Interventions to Improve Help-Seeking for Mental Health Concerns: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [42]
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- Authors
- Shandley, K., Austin, D., Klein, B., & Kyrios, M.
- Affiliations
- Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Shandley, K.
- Venue
- Health Education Research
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2010-02-11
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 563-574
- ISSN
- 0268-1153 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3648
- OpenAlex
- W2118841418
- Cited by
- 108
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 8.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Education Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- FedUni ResearchOnline (Federation University Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Deakin Research Online (Deakin University) (submittedVersion)
- Swinburne figshare (Swinburne University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- mental health promotion, youth, mental health literacy, mental health stigma, help-seeking, coping strategies, resilience, psychological distress, gender differences, program satisfaction, alcohol consumption, early intervention
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Adult, Alcoholism, Consumer Behavior, Female, Health Education, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Personal Satisfaction, Prejudice, Sex Factors, Stress, Psychological, Health Behavior, Internet, Young Adult, Health Literacy
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