The role of internet technology and social branding in improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people
Abstract
Aims: With large numbers of young people experiencing mental health difficulties but not seeking help, there is a need to develop not only innovative but also well-promoted strategies that are appealing to this population and reduce barriers to help seeking. Methods: Reach Out! (http://www.reachout.com.au) is presented as a case study, demonstrating an internet-based initiative that sucessfully incorporates technology and social branding to provide a service that promotes the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Australia aged 16 to 25. Results: With over seven million visits since its launch in 1998 and one in three young Australians aware of the website, Reach Out! is a trusted service that young people in Australia use when going through a tough time. Online user profiling suggests that after visiting Reach Out!, 38% of young people contact a mental health professional. The implications of these results will be discussed. Conclusions: Reach Out! can serve as a model for the social sector to utilize technology and social branding to enhance existing community-based services and promote the mental health and wellbeing of young people.
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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 [77]
The majority of studies reported a lack of longitudinal tracking.
“a lack of longitudinal tracking in the study [53,71,77]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [77]
Seven studies [52,53,55,63,77-79] developed the intervention that they were evaluating, which may have led to a bias towards more favorable reporting.
“Seven studies [52,53,55,63,77-79] developed the intervention that they were evaluating, which may have led to a bias towards more favorable reporting.”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [77]
The majority of studies reported non-validated and possibly biased measures.
“non-validated and possibly biased measures [56,64,74,77]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [77]
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 [77]
Unstructured mental health websites have high uptake [77].
“In contrast, unstructured mental health websites have high uptake [77]”
From Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review (2014) · cites this paper as [77]
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- Authors
- Nicholas, J.
- Affiliations
- The Inspire Foundation, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,
- Corresponding author
- Nicholas, Jonathan
- Venue
- Perspectives in Public Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-03
- Volume
- 130
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 86-90
- ISSN
- 1757-9139 (ISSN-L)
- 1757-9147
- OpenAlex
- W2089357083
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perspectives in Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- youth mental health, mental health promotion, social branding, online services, help-seeking barriers, online mental health services, youth, community-based services, mental health service utilization
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Australia, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Personal Satisfaction, Internet
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