Web for Information and Mental Health Support

Learning what there is to learn Challenges of using the web to provide mental health information and support Patrick Daniels – Advice and Volunteering Manager - YouthNet

Web is like anything new… … it comes with a learning curve Photo: billso

Photo: gomattolson Imagine we could fly… What would the papers say…

Flying flying flying Flying Flying flying

… actually, it’s all these things Terrifying or terrific? Amazing or shocking? Revolutionary or mystifying? Source: www.opte.org/maps/ The web (a visualisation)

… a bit like riding a bike Photo: Ed Yourdon Terrifying or terrific? Amazing or shocking? Revolutionary or mystifying?

Is access to information always a good thing?
Empowering
Enabling
Overwhelming
Anxiety provoking
@charmermark – analogy between Twitter and radar at #Media140 Information is a human issue, not a technical problem Photo: BenFrantzDale

1. Anonymity 2. Choice 3. Participation Web’s a bundle of new capabilities (their potential is dependent on how well we learn to use them)... … there are many others as the social potential of the technology is understood better

Photo: Lizbt Action Web capability #1: Anonymity Limiting or enabling?

Anonymity Confidentiality Service user decides Service provider decides Personal drivers like identity and feelings dominant Social drivers like law and policies dominant

Question 9: If you had a problem that was worrying you, which of the following would make you look for advice on the internet rather than speaking to someone face to face? Anonymity is the most popular reason for seeking advice online rather than from other sources The internet is anonymous: no one would know who I was It would be easy to access the internet from wherever I am It would be easy to find relevant information quickly I could connect with similar people who understand me and my issues There would be people on the internet who are experts I would never use the internet to look for help or advice Don’t know Futures Company- commissioned by YouthNet: 994 young people interviewed, July 2009 62 56 53 29 27 2 9 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

"We're constantly judging our insides on everyone else's outsides" Ruthie Henshall

Facilitating or constraining? Anonymous connections…

Privacy Public Anonymity Broadcast With the web the scale has changed by an order of magnitude

Privacy Public Anonymity Broadcast With the web the scale has changed by an order of magnitude Persistence Web also means that information can be captured and be searchable

Photo: Patrick Haney Emotionally supportive Acknowledges feelings Non-judgmental, trusted Ideal advisor: would be like a friend

Relationships Question 6: When it comes to relationships, which of the following sources would you consider turning to for information or advice about…? Question 7: Which one source of advice would you turn to first for information or advice about very sensitive concerns relating to relationships? Futures Company: 994 young people interviewed July 2009 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Friends Parents Brothers or Sisters Magazines Internet search (e.g. Google) Online forums / discussion groups An online ‘help-site’ (e.g talktofrank.com) A help-line (e.g. talktofrank, Samaritans) A professional/expert Other None of these Everyday worries that are on your mind Personal issues that sometimes concern you Critical and sensitive issues that you are very anxious about Friends Parents Brothers or sisters Magazines Internet search (e.g. Google) Online forums / discussion groups An online ‘help-site’ A help-line A professional / expert Other None of these 47 14 4 2 9 4 2 1 4 2 11

Photo: DFID - UK Department for International Development Ideal advisor: would be like a trained expert Understands the options Provides accurate information Offers external perspective

Health Question 6: When it comes to health, which of the following sources would you consider turning to for information or advice about…? Question 7: Which one source of advice would you turn to first for information or advice about very sensitive concerns relating to health? Futures Company: 994 young people interviewed July 2009 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Friends Parents Brothers or sisters Magazines Internet search (e.g. Google) Online forums / discussion groups An online ‘help-site’ (e.g. talktofrank.com) A help-line (e.g. talktofrank, Samaritans) A professional/expert Other None of these Everyday worries that are on your mind Personal issues that sometimes concern you Critical and sensitive issues that you are very anxious about Friends Parents Brothers or sisters Magazines Internet search (e.g. Google) Online forums / discussion groups An online ‘help-site’ A help-line A professional / expert Other None of these 8 15 3 8 15 3 9 1 27 3 7

Challenges
How can we use new technology to offer early intervention?

Simplifying or Confusing? Web capability #2: Choice Photo: padsbrother

91 86 83 70 65 62 60 60 42 41 39 38 30 20 19 8 4 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Sending or receiving email Use social-networking sites Surfing the Internet without a specific purpose Using an instant messenger Finding specific information for personal life Making purchases online Watching or listening to TV and radio online Searching for specific information for work or study Buying or selling things in auctions Taking part in online discussion forums / chat rooms Downloading programmes, games, ringtones or screensavers Creating or contributing online content Asking a question online for other people to answer Writing reviews of products or events Using online video services or webcams to communicate Visiting online dating sites None of these % 16-24 year olds Question 3: Thinking about the internet, which of the following have you done in the last week? 18% 11% 20% 26% 27% 29% 32% 33% 35% 42% 45% 49% 51% 52% 58% 65% 68% Will be more important in the future Millennials feel that they will use technology for targeted and specific tasks in the future Futures Company 2009: 994 young people interviewed

Choice: Live or On Demand Synchronous [stream model] Asynchronous [ocean model] Takes place live: time limited, smaller reach, more interactive, more personalised Takes place over a period of time: persists, broader reach, less interactive, less personalised Two way Helpline (voice) – including webcam Chat online (group or one-to-one) Text message (SMS) Email Discussion board Broadcast Live audio or video stream Factsheets Multimedia download

Forms of online support Peer-to-peer support Research Crisis

" Online is good if you want to remain anonymous and don't feel comfortable talking to someone face to face, or if there is no services to help you in your area." Participant, Self Harm project TheSite.org/selfharm is a joint project between: 42nd Street, Depaul UK and YouthNet, funded by the Camelot Foundation and supported by the National Children's Bureau

Choice: time and space Location constraints Time constraints Service user Able to access support services remotely Able to access information and content 24 hours a day Service provider Able to provide support service across larger geographical areas Able to provide resources that are available on demand

The internet means that my friends are there whenever I need them Futures Company 2009: 994 young people interviewed Male Female 16-18 19-21 22-24 ABC1 C2DE Total Gender Age Social Grade Does not apply to me Don’t know Disagree strongly Disagree slightly Neither agree nor disagree Agree slightly Agree strongly % 32 32 32 38 30 27 32 32 44 41 47 42 43 47 44 44 15 17 12 12 14 18 13 16 7 7 6 6 9 5 7 7 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

I trust the opinions of people who give me advice on online forums and discussion boards Futures Company 2009: 994 young people interviewed Male Female 16-18 19-21 22-24 ABC1 C2DE Total Gender Age Social Grade Does not apply to me Don’t know Disagree strongly Disagree slightly Neither agree nor disagree Agree slightly Agree strongly % 9 12 6 17 7 3 7 12 39 41 37 36 38 43 43 35 35 34 36 32 35 39 34 37 9 7 10 6 12 9 8 9 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 3 1 5 4 3 1 3 3 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Challenges
How can we use new technology to widen access to our services?

Participation: Web capability #3: Participation Empowering or tokenism? Photo: sryffel

"Young people are creators not consumers of the services." Sally Carr, Leader in Charge, Lesbian & Gay Youth Manchester

" It's great as it allows you to get advice from people that have been through the same thing and makes you feel good when you can relate and give advice to others." Participant, Self Harm project talking about the discussion boards on TheSite.org

Service provider Service user

Information driving participation Translating data about services from patients into human stories that can affect real change Enabling the community to organise and access local information about support ALISS Project Patient Opinion Mind Apples Sharing information to support each other as part of a campaign

Challenges
How can we use new technology to widen access to our services?
How can we use new technology to change the relationship between service users and service providers?

[email_address] www.youthnet.org / www.theSite.org Patrick Daniels

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Web for Information and Mental Health Support

by Patrick Daniels on Feb 26, 2010

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