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 ..