Peer Facilitators as Core Co-developers of an Online Peer Encouragement Network (OPEN2chat) for Austrian Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is a crucial developmental time, and it is essential to ensure stable mental health during the transition to adulthood. Peer-to-peer networks seem to be a promising tool to support adolescents during that time. While co-development often concentrates on the end-user, this paper focuses on the peer facilitators of an online peer encouragement network (OPEN2chat), where adolescents can chat with peer facilitators about their problems. We conducted 3 group discussions with 18 peer facilitators after a testing phase to improve the process of these interactions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data after transcription. The four main themes were the responsibility of the peer facilitators toward their peers, especially their role of giving advice; the interaction process itself; time management; and technology aspects of the application. Including these stakeholders in the development process empowered the young people, helped eliminate problems with the application, and made the researchers more sensitive toward potential issues and emotions that peer facilitators encounter that may have been missed without a co-development process. Eliminating these problems might also help establish a better environment and support system for the actual end-users.

Effectiveness of Online and Remote Interventions for Mental Health in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Nevertheless, several factors must be considered: Legal frameworks might need to be adapted for different countries [ 8 ], and therapists might need support when transitioning to online interventions [ 8 , 27 ]. Regarding the development of such interventions, studies have shown positive effects by including peer groups in the development process [ 34 , 36 ] and using peers as advisors [ 35 , 37 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, several factors must be considered: Legal frameworks might need to be adapted for different countries [8], and therapists might need support when transitioning to online interventions [8,27]. Regarding the development of such interventions, studies have shown positive effects by including peer groups in the development process [34,36] and using peers as advisors [35,37]. However, using digital media and smartphones in and of themselves might pose risk factors for children and adolescents: An increase in cyber victimization through media use has been found [57], and young people are more at risk for addictive behavior in general [7].…”

“…Applications developed to enhance mental health in children and adolescents show good acceptability [33]. Co-designed eHealth for adolescents appears to be associated with a more engaging and satisfying user experience [34][35][36][37].…”

Who cares?

“…Verunsicherung, Einsamkeit, Lockdown und Distance Learning (Berger et al, 2021;Huber und Helm, 2020): Bereits vor der Pandemie litten mindestens 20 % der österreichischen Jugendlichen an psychischen Problemen (Wagner et al, 2017) So konnte mit dem Projekt open2chat durch Forschung schon vor der Pandemie der Bedarf eines niederschwelligen Behandlungsangebots als asynchron sowie synchron nutzbares Chat-Programm identifiziert und die Entwicklung bereits 2019 begonnen werden (Mägde et al, 2020). Bei der Entwicklung wurden Jugendlichen von Anfang an mit involviert (Mittmann, Schmalwieser, Diendorfer, Schrank, & Boeckle, 2022). Dadurch wurden und werden die Web-Applikation stetig an die Bedürfnisse der Jugendlichen angepasst (Mittmann et al, 2022) (Jesser, Schmalwieser, Diendorfer et al, 2021) sowie theoretische Zugänge und praktische Lösungen miteinander verbunden (Schmalwieser, Jesser, Mädge, Schrank, & Boeckle, 2022).…”

“…Bei der Entwicklung wurden Jugendlichen von Anfang an mit involviert (Mittmann, Schmalwieser, Diendorfer, Schrank, & Boeckle, 2022). Dadurch wurden und werden die Web-Applikation stetig an die Bedürfnisse der Jugendlichen angepasst (Mittmann et al, 2022) (Jesser, Schmalwieser, Diendorfer et al, 2021) sowie theoretische Zugänge und praktische Lösungen miteinander verbunden (Schmalwieser, Jesser, Mädge, Schrank, & Boeckle, 2022).…”