Australia Mental Health: Across All Focus Groups

The survey was funded by a Australian Research Council Linkage Grant.

Overall, few group differences were identified. As a result, whenever searching for restaurants, for banking purposes than younger males, older males tended to be more likely to report using technology for reading news. That’s where it starts getting serious. The authors wish to thank the young men who joined in this study. Let me tell you something. Quite a few focus group participants indicated that they are enthusiastic and heavy users of technology. Across all focus groups, participants listed at least 10 different ‘technologybased’ practices they regularly engage in. Most frequently reported was Internet use via computers, computer/console games, mobile phones and portable audio devices for a range of activities.

Focus group participants brainstormed strategies for using technology to address plenty of the barriers to help seeking.

These were grouped under common themes with three key insights emerging. Some also recommended male role models, such as boxers, sports players, and actors. It’s a well one participant requested the following. This could include delivering mental health content in young men’s online communities of interest. Many participants emphasised interventions importance being relevant and relating to their everyday lives and interests. Thirdly, many participants indicated a preference for actionbased rather than ‘talk based’ strategies. Most participants indicated that they would be fearful of being judged by their peers, family or a professional but said this gonna be mitigated by being able to seek information and help anonymously online.

This study is unique in its focus on exploring and understanding young men’s attitudes and behaviours in relation to technology use and mental health. Methodologically, both use quantitative and qualitative findings is a strength of this study. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

This study is unique in its focus on exploring and understanding young men’s attitudes and behaviours in relation to technology use and mental health. Methodologically, both use quantitative and qualitative findings is a strength of this study. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

This study is unique in its focus on exploring and understanding young men’s attitudes and behaviours in relation to technology use and mental health. Methodologically, both use quantitative and qualitative findings is a strength of this study. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Young males identifying with diverse sexuality and gender.

Young men’s fears of being judged as weak or ‘unmanly’ could also be the key to building knowledge and skills that support help seeking. Quite a few masculinity ideologies, norms and gender roles appear to play a part in discouraging males from seeking professional help, as identified in previous research. Fact, rather than talkbased can be more engaging, interventions which are ‘actionbased’. Eventually, rather tap into male ‘subcultures’ and focus on building strength or improving performance, research participants themselves suggested that interventions should not be explicitly branded as ‘mental health interventions’. Anyway, interventions must therefore be relevant and engaging for young men and should carefully balance ‘peerrecommendation’ with anonymity. Across all focus groups participants presented negative views on professional services, and a related perception that seeking professional help challenges their sense of masculinity.

This findings study point to some important insights that can be used to inform strategies to use the Internet to promote mental health and help seeking among young men.

Our study is concordant with current views that Internet interventions might be more likely to be successful for young men if they provide. The findings from this study suggest that we may need to look at gaming and ‘threedimensional’ virtual environments as inspiration to enhance enjoyment for and engagement with young men. Internetoperated therapeutic software that uses advanced computer capabilities. Now please pay attention. The term gamification had been adopted as an umbrella term for gaming use elements in ‘non gaming’ systems to improve user experience and engagement. Rather than engagement with the technology, this has particular relevance in a mental health context where designers must place an emphasis on engagement with the treatment. Make sure you leave a comment about it. Internet supported strategies to support mental health have increased tremendously over the past decade and now offer a real alternative, or supplement, to traditional, face to face therapeutic interventions. Existing interventions take loads of different forms and can be broadly distinguished as. Monk et al.

Survey participants were asked whether they had ever sought help for their problems on the Internet. Most said that talking online ‘helped’, and that they were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the online help they received. More than half of all male respondents reported that they had talked about their problems online. Notice, help or support, the current aim study was to increase our understanding of young men’s attitudes and behaviours wards mental health, so as to inform the development of online mental health services for young men. Normally, with younger males being more likely to have talked about their problems online than older males, age was a significant predictor for seeking help online. Furthermore, the study addresses two key gaps in the existing literature. More needs to be known specifically about young men’s attitudes wards mental health and ‘helpseeking’ and their use of technology if we are to create online interventions that attract and engage young men and enhance any sustainability benefits.

They are also using technology for finding information and support, young men are heavy users of technology, particularly when it comes to entertainment and connecting with friends. Most survey participants reported that they have sought help for a issue online and were satisfied with the help they received. While citing a preference for ‘self help’ and actionoriented strategies instead, the focus group data suggested that young men would be less likely to seek professional help for themselves. Focus group participants identified potential strategies for how technology going to be used to overcome the barriers to help seeking for young men.

This study suggests that there might be powerful views wards mental health and help seeking that are gender specific. Though further work must now be undertaken, this study suggests that there should be a compelling need for gender specific strategies and interventions. This results study clearly indicate that although young men may have better awareness and understanding, the real challenge is to design interventions that are ‘action based’, seen as relevant, and focus on shifting behaviour and stigma. These will be informed by young men’s views and technology practices and take into account the important role that peers play in the help seeking process. This findings study point to some important insights that can be used to inform strategies to use the Internet to promote mental health and help seeking among young men. Previous research from Australia indicates an increase in awareness of mental health issues, particularly for those who have been extensive subject public health campaigns, such as depression.

Two questions sets were selected from a recent national survey on mental health in Australia. Whether chatting with other people via the Internet helped, questions second set asked respondents whether they have ever talked about their problems on the nternet, and if so. Nevertheless, respondents were asked how satisfied they were with the information/support they received on the Internet. With items being rated on a fivepoint Likert scale, respondents were asked how likely it would be that they would suggest to their friend that they seek help from particular sources. Questions first set asked respondents what they would do if they thought a friend might be experiencing a mental health problem.

This findings research also build on existing studies, particularly in role terms of the Internet for promoting help seeking in young men. While citing a preference instead for ‘self help’ and action oriented strategies, though they can be more likely to seek professional help if a friend intervened and actively encouraged them to do so, The focus group data suggested that they would be unlikely to seek professional help for themselves. They associate mental health with illness and pathology and as something that happens to ‘other people’. A well-known fact that is. Consistent previous research, the survey data indicated that if young men were to refer help to someone with a mental health problem, they would most possibly recommend an informal source of help rather than a physician or mental health professional. There was evidence to suggest that those with a higher level of education or those currently studying PDHPE may have more informed understandings of mental health, although the findings were remarkably consistent across all 17 focus groups. Likewise, participants in the focus groups displayed strong resistance and lack of skills to seek mental health information, support and help for themselves when needed. Thus, these findings correspond with recommendations made by Rickwood et al.

Each focus group involved four to 10 males and lasted 60 to 90minutes. To address concerns regarding participants willingness to share their perspectives of sensitive pics in front of others, participants were asked to respond individually to questions about mental health by writing their answers down on a piece of paper. The focus groups were recorded, transcribed and analysed gether with written notes. Ok, and now one of the most important parts. Youth Ambassadors involved with Australia’s most accessed online youth mental health service and was used for each focus group to explore the following themes.

While leveraging young people’s high levels of Internet usage and existing social networks, recruitment was achieved via online snow ball sampling. This study received ethics approval from Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee. Participants gave consent online and understood that their participation was voluntary, confidential and nonidentifiable. The Facebook advertisement was specifically targeted to appear on Australian pages Facebook users between the ages of 16 to The survey was also specifically advertised through youth serving organisations, including youth centres and clinics, online service providers, charities, colleges, universities and relevant government organisations, via a flyer and link to the survey which was distributed via email. For instance, online sampling was used as a way of reaching young people who are normally difficult to access via ‘randomdigit’ dialling or panel methods, and as a way of reducing social desirability effects. Oftentimes an advertisement was placed on Facebook, a popular online social networking site, and participants were encouraged to promote the survey to their peers, who then completed the survey and further promoted the study through their networks.

Three potential limitations could be considered when interpreting the study results that relate to the sampling methodology. Internet and the results for the survey concerning ICT use are comparable with previous research. Due to ethical concerns, we were unable to collect more accurate measures of socioeconomic status, such as family income, postcode measures of socioeconomic status are notoriously problematic. Then, internet access and use in Australia is very high. Now let me tell you something. Our survey sample was recruited via Facebook advertising and snowball sampling which again raises questions about the results generalizability. Rather to include a broad perspective range of young men in order to capture the richness and complexity of young men’s attitudes and behaviours in relation to technology use and mental health, and to use these findings to build on the survey results, the primary qualitative aim component of this study was not to recruit a statistically representative sample of all young men across Australia. Have you heard of something like this before? An analysis of Statistics Australian Bureau SEIFA Index in relation to participants’ home address postcodes suggests that our sample may have been skewed wards young men from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. With all that said. Given that we recruited participants for the survey using online methods, our sample was limited to young people with Internet access.

The key challenge for online mental health services is to design interventions specifically for young men that are actionbased, focus on shifting behaviour and stigma, and are not simply about increasing mental health knowledge.

Simple linear regression was used to investigate whether any significant age differences were present. The focus group data was analysed thematically using complete transcripts of each session. That’s right! Separately, two researchers with prior qualitative research experience systematically coded the transcripts applying brief verbal descriptions to small chuncks of data, and after all identified themes which integrated substantial sets of these codings. The results were then compared and discussed until the generated themes were agreed upon. Such interventions might be userdriven, informed by young men’s views and everyday technology practices, and leverage peers influence. Age was included as a continuous variable and a ‘pvalue’ of less than 05 was considered statistically significant. Lots of info can be found easily by going on the web. The survey data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. This procedure was applied to ensure that the generated themes were identified and clustered in a way that was consistent with more views than one person and not simply a reflection of one researcher’s subjective interpretation.

In line with previous research, most participants indicated the need for online information and support services to be an anonymous process and fears of being identified when seeking help were key themes when seeking value information and support online was discussed.a bunch of focus group participants expressed the view that dealing with one’s own problems was preferable to seeking help from others. The third major theme that emerged related to self role help strategies.

Specifically, counsellors and psychologists, across all focus groups, participants displayed a range of negative attitudes in relation to mental health professionals. Others believed that they could get quite similar support for free from close friends, family or online, Some participants said they would not want to pay for services and were sceptical of the professional’s motives. Seeking logistical issues professional support were also sighted as a significant barrier. That’s right! Having to make an appointment, travel to an unfamiliar location and after all discuss emotional issues at a specific time were all reasons given for not accessing professional services. Anyway, participants generally expressed low trust and lack of confidence in professionals’ maintaining confidentiality and ability to actually help. ‘non judgemental’ and have experienced a mental health problem themselves, when asked what would make a professional more appealing participants felt they might be down to earth.a finding that is consistent with previous research involving young people, When asked to list the persons that participants would feel comfortable discussing personal problems with, very few mentioned counsellors. Consequently, with different life experiences and difficult to relate to, mental health professionals were described as older. These factors contribute to the view across all groups that professional support services are the ‘option of last resort’.

The Internet has become an important ol for young people seeking health information. The Internet has significant advantages as a method of interacting with young people. The Internet may address the strong desire for independence and autonomy in males and provide a nonconfrontational medium through which to seek help. Immediate attention needs to be directed to improving usage and adherence rates, and new methods need to be explored which cater for young men’s mental health needs and expectations. Including how to ensure program enough is received and that users remain engaged with the program, as well as how to enhance any sustainability benefits, these studies have highlighted several important challenges for MoodGYM, ROC and other ‘selfdirected’ Internet programs. There is some more information about this stuff on this site. Young people in Australia report they are twice as likely to seek help from the Internet than a professional. Two currently available online programs aimed at improving mental health outcomes, MoodGYM, and Reach Out Central, have shown promise in trials with young people.

For the current purposes paper, only the data for young men was considered.

Sixty six male percent sample were in full time study at school, TAFE or university, 136% were employed ‘fulltime’, and 9% were employed part time. Participants’ comments highlighted that help seeking is associated with weakness and a loss of manhood. Across all 17 focus groups, participants indicated that they would find it difficult to seek help because of culturally dominant masculine traits that place an emphasis on males to be strong and to not show any emotion, a finding that is consistent with previous research. Fact,, 223% spoke a language aside from English in the apartments, Three male percent sample identified themselves as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin. Certainly, for instance. Participation for males varied across Australian States and Territories.

Regardless of age, geographic location or level of education, many participants indicated that they would be uncomfortable talking about their problems with either their friends or a professional. Disclosing personal or sensitive information to someone else who is not their closest friend was described in one focus group as over sharing and strongly discouraged. Nonetheless, participants who held such views indicated they would be unreceptive listeners. Participants across various focus groups indicated that they would not want to hear others talk about mental health issues, particularly if they were talking with someone except a best mate, as well as not wanting to discuss mental health issues themselves.

Many other participants explained that they would prefer not to directly raise a huge issue with a friend showing signs of poor mental health. Whenever socialising or drinking as opposed to engaging with the poser cause directly, they would first attempt to ‘help’ their friend by encouraging them to participate in sport. Participants across virtually all focus groups indicated that would address the serious problem directly or actively encourage their friend to seek professional help if they felt it was absolutely necessary. Interestingly, these discussions also revealed that some would only see a professional if a close friend or family member actively encouraged them to do so.

This suggests a ‘’catch 22” situation whereby these young men would tend to resist encouraging a friend to seek help but at identical time would require a close friend’s intervention if they themselves were going through an ugh time.

Research also suggests that young men find it difficult to seek help because of culturally dominant masculine traits which place an emphasis on men to be independent, to suppress emotion, and show a lack of vulnerability. Young men in Australia have poorer mental health than their female counterparts including higher rates of completed suicide, antisocial behaviour, and alcohol and substance misuse problems. To be seen to endure pain and to be strong and resilient about mental health or emotional problems had been identified as a key practice of masculinity. It is now being argued that greater focus going to be placed on providing health services that are relevant and meet their needs, rather than inherently blaming and therefore attempting to ‘reeducate’ young men. That said, while these constructions of masculinity remain relevant, and are a backdrop for men’s illness behaviours, it should not mean that we adopt a view which positions men as victims of their own behaviour. This is the case. Young men have poorer mental health knowledge and higher mental health stigma than young females. Young men are also less likely to seek help during adolescence and young adulthood, although gender differences in ‘help seeking’ vary according to problem type and source of help. Basically, the factors associated with poorer ‘helpseeking’ practices in young men are complex.

Whenever pursing general interests and listening to music, although there was some diversity in the particular services being used, social networking and video sites were universally reported among focus group participants for socialising. This comment is consistent with Boyd assertion that while particular social networking services will come and go, it is the activity of communication and socialising that is important to these young people. As highlighted by one participant. With only a small minority using Twitter and MySpace, consistent with our quantitative survey results, dozens of focus group participants reported using Facebook. Just think for a moment. As reported by one young male. Many participants also indicated that they are enthusiastic about searching funny stuff and following a trail of linked videos. Furthermore, that’s so last year.

The focus groups explored young men’s beliefs about health and mental health with some very consistent themes emerging.

Loads of those tended to believe they would never be personally affected a mental health difficulty, while most respondents acknowledged that mental health problems are relatively prevalent in the wider community. More educated participants and students studying Personal Development, Health and Physical Education in high school tended to have a more holistic, multidimensional concept of health. Whenever being crazy, straight jackets, mental institutions and unstable people, with things like insanity, across all 17 focus groups, the term ‘mental health’ had overwhelmingly negative connotations among focus group members and was associated. Whenever revealing that young men generally have a narrow conception of health, consistent with previous research, most focus group discussions of ‘what it means to be healthy’ were dominated by references to physical fitness and diet. Although, one high school student summed it up well.

Depression was correctly identified in all but two focus groups as an ordinary mental health condition for young people. One participant commented. With that said, focus group discussions provided insights into the gap between existing help options and young men’s actual helpseeking, which can be summarised in four key themes. Twenty five of participants had completed education or training beyond highschool, 618% were in some form of employment with 339% percent working fulltime, and 390percent of participants identified with a cultural background apart from Australian. Some participants also noted that depression is experienced mainly by young girls, and to a lesser extent older men. A well-known fact that is. Australian States participated in the focus groups.

The survey also asked participants to indicate their preferences for receiving mental health information and support through technology.

All authors participated in the final drafting article. The p four responses were. Actually, pC led the qualitative data analysis and LE led the quantitative data analysis and wrote the article first draft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8krW5z-MO4

All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Older males were more likely to report that they wanted a website with information and/or fact sheets and a website promoting physical wellbeing than younger males. PH carried out the interviews and participated in the qualitative data analysis.