Journal article
Reach Out Central: a serious game designed to engage young men to improve mental health and wellbeing
Jane M Burns, Marianne Webb, Lauren A Durkin, Ian B Hickie
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA | WILEY | Published : 2010
Abstract
Reach Out Central (ROC) is a serious game drawing on the principles of cognitive behaviour theory that has been designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people, particularly men. ROC was developed over a 3-year period from 2003 to 2006, in consultation with young people aged 16-25 years who use the Reach Out mental health website http://www.reachout.com). ROC was launched online in September 2007. A traditional and viral awareness campaign was designed to engage young men, particularly "gamers". In the first month after launch, ROC had 76 045 unique website visits, with 10 542 new members (52% male) joining Reach Out. An independent online evaluation involving 266 young p..
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Funding Acknowledgements
Reach Out is a program of the Inspire Foundation (http://www.inspire.org.au), a national charity that uses the internet and related technologies to improve the mental health of young people. We acknowledge the young people and mental health professionals who have worked with the Inspire Foundation team and given freely of their time to help create the Reach Out website. ROC was funded by the Sony Foundation and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Reach Out Pro was developed in collaboration with the Brain & Mind Research Institute, Orygen Youth Health, and headspace Central Coast. The project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.