Michelle Blanchard

ReachOut.com: The Role of an Online Service for Promoting Help-Seeking in Young People

Abstract 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. In this paper we examine the potential for online mental health services to address the persistent challenge of facilitating help-seeking in young people. 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 offl ine clinical services are likely to strengthen and systematise the role of ReachOut.com as a gateway service, supporting young people to seek professional support.

Reaching the hard-to-reach: how information communication technologies can reach young people at greater risk of mental health difficulties

Objective: Inspire and partners have built an evidence base examining the role technology can play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people at increased risk of developing mental health difficulties. This paper explores these findings collectively and considers how to best use information communication technologies (ICT) to meet the mental health needs of diverse young people aged 14–25. Conclusions: ICT offers relevant and innovative strategies for young people at increased risk of developing mental health difficulties. Whilst many young people experience social isolation and stigma, the manifestation of these issues and the strategies required to address them vary. ICT-based programs will benefit from identifying which protective factors can be most positively influenced through the unique properties of ICT, amongst whom and how. Challenges to ICT-based health services include inadequate access and training, lower literacy levels and the need for specialized technologies for people with disabilities.

Preventing youth disengagement and promoting engagement

This discussion paper was commissioned by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) to help clarify the problem of youth disengagement - its nature, magnitude, issues and trends - with a strong focus on including the voices and perceptions of young people. The paper includes a comprehensive literature review, an analysis of individual and social pathways to youth disengagement, and an analysis of ‘what works best’ across five case studies: substance abuse; community violence; school disengagement; civic participation; and youth mental health reform. The paper will inform discussion at a workshop to be held in late 2008.