The internet as a setting for mental health service utilisation by young people

Abstract

Objective: To explore patterns of internet use by young people in Australia and assess the usefulness of online resources for mental health problems, exploring functionality that may be relevant in the development of online mental health services. Design and participants: Cross‐sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of young people (2000 randomly selected participants aged 12–25 years), via telephone interview, conducted in January–March 2008. Main outcome measures: Patterns of internet use including type of use, social networking, sources of information about mental health, alcohol or other substance use problems and levels of satisfaction with the information, and type of information accessed via websites. Results: Young people reported using the internet to connect with other young people (76.9%; 1464/1905) and to seek information about a mental health problem, regardless of whether they had a problem themselves (38.8%; 735/1894). Twenty per cent of young people (398/1990) had personally experienced a mental health problem in the previous 5 years; when these people were asked about sources of information used for this problem, 30.8% (70/227) reported searching the internet. Patterns of internet use and types of resources used differed by age and sex. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that technology is important in the everyday lives of young people, and online mental health services that encompass promotion and prevention activities should include a variety of resources that appeal to all ages and both sexes, such as “question and answer” forums and email.

Use of the Internet as a Health Information Resource Among French Young Adults: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey

“…This was previously found in the general population [3,41-44] and could probably be related to the ambiguity of the age effect [45]. On the one hand, younger people, namely adolescents, have more access to the Internet and have better and more Web-related skills [46-48].…”

“…On the one hand, institutional websites need to be created—or the promotion of labels on other websites—where health information is clearly thought through, well planned, referenced, and safely managed [56]. This process is already in place in the United States and Australia [2,3,43], where young Web users represent a large proportion of online health seekers. In France, the INPES also developed many validated information resources on the Internet and social networks dedicated to young people during the last 10 years.…”

“…Health prevention programs can benefit from the Internet especially when dedicated to or designed for young adults who represent the vast majority of Web users [2]. High-quality health information can be provided through websites, forums, blogs, and social networks, which have been some of the most popular channels for health promotion among young people in the past 10 years [2,3]. In France, 3 of 4 people have access to the Internet, and Internet use is higher in young people compared to other adults: 99% of people aged 12-17 years use the Internet, and this proportion falls to 22% for those aged 70 years and older [4].…”

A meta-analysis of the effect of new-media interventions on sexual-health behaviours

“…Over 95% of young people in Australia use the internet, and more than half have access to the internet on their phone 5. Direct access to individuals in non-intrusive ways,6 along with the ability of new-media to provide tailored information in relatively inexpensive ways,7 8 creates a unique opportunity for health interventions.…”

The Quik Fix study: a randomised controlled trial of brief interventions for young people with alcohol-related injuries and illnesses accessing emergency department and crisis support care

“…Global mobile devices and connections grew to 7 billion in 2013 [10]. Ninety-nine percent of young Australians own mobile phones, and overwhelmingly prefer electronic sources of health information over traditional ones [11,12]. Mobile phones provide an innovative, youth friendly and accessible way of delivering treatment.…”