What do young men want from online mental health support?

Details

This mixed-methods study explored young Australian men's attitudes and behaviour concerning mental health and technology use, with the aim of informing the development of online mental health services for young men. It used a national online survey of 486 males aged 16 to 24 and 17 focus groups involving 118 males aged 16 to 24.

Young men were heavy users of technology, particularly for entertainment and connecting with friends, but also used it to find information and support. The focus group data suggested that young men would be less likely to seek professional help for themselves, citing a preference for self-help and action-oriented strategies instead.

Most survey participants reported having sought help for a problem online and being satisfied with the help they received. Focus group participants also identified potential strategies for using technology to overcome barriers to help-seeking for young men.

The study concludes that the key challenge for online mental health services is to design interventions specifically for young men that are action-based and focus on shifting behaviour and stigma, rather than simply increasing mental health knowledge. These interventions should also be user-driven, informed by young men's views and everyday technology practices, and leverage the influence of peers.