Access to appropriate care and readiness to seek help remain a major barrier for young people’s mental health. However, they regularly turn to online services for mental health information and support, which offer innovative avenues for young people to seek help. Link (working title) aims to facilitate help-seeking and improve access to timely, appropriate care for young adults with mental health concerns using an online tool to connect them to existing mental health resources. This presentation discussed the theory behind Link, the pivotal role young people played in its co-design, and the process for evaluating its effectiveness. Presented by Victoria Blake (Research Coordinator) and Andréa Browne (Senior Project Manager/Creative Producer) at the 8th Primary Mental Health Care Conference.

1. Project Link: Developing
a user driven help-seeking
tool and pathways to mental
health care for young adults
Victoria Blake & Andréa Browne
13th March, 2015

2. The Problem
• 25% of young people in Australia experience mental health difficulties
• 70% of these young people don’t seek professional help
• 75% of mental health problems emerge before the age of 25
Source: Slade et al 2009

3. Attitudes to Help Seeking

4. Our Approach

5. 01. Help Seeking Theory
Rickwood et al, 2005

6. 02. Youth Participation Principles
• Involvement throughout the service
design and delivery process
• A variety of opportunities to contribute
in meaningful ways
• Consider the spectrum of users
and include a diversity of perspectives
• Ask young people what they want and
how they want it delivered

7. 02. Youth Participation

8. 03. Service Providers

9. 03. Development / Phase 01
Minimum Viable Product /RCT

10. 03. Development / Phase 01
Minimum Viable Product /RCT

11. What Next?
PHASE II

12. What Next/ Phase 02
MORE PATHWAYS
PHASE 01 (MVP)
• Stress + Anxiety
• Eating Disorders / Body Image
• Alcohol and other Drugs
• Suicide
• Bullying
• Relationships (friends, families,
partners)
• Not sure just not feeling myself
PHASE 02
• Sexuality and Gender
• Sexual Health
• The Future (Housing/career/money/law)
• Trauma
• Psychosis

13. What Next/ Phase 02
IMPROVED USER EXPERIENCE
1. Introduce feedback/ advice through out the process
2. Incorporate positive reinforcements and interventions
3. Address co-morbidity, how can it be applied to a digital
model and what are the effects on service mapping.

14. What Next/ Phase 02
IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY

15. ReachOut.com Professionals
Practical resources for using ReachOut.com and helping
young people in health, education and social services.
• Order ReachOut.com promotional material
+ teaching resources
• Get helpful resources direct to your inbox
professionals.reachout.com
Any Questions?
victoria@reachout.com / andrea@reachout.com