Understanding E-Mental Health Resources: Personality, Awareness, Utilization, and Effectiveness of E-Mental Health Resources Amongst Youth

Abstract

The focus of this study is to replicate portions of the study by Neal, Campbell, Williams, Liu, and Nussbaumer (2011) to determine if their findings translate to Australian adolescents. Specifically, this study aims to: determine personality types as predictors of knowledge and utilization of e-mental health resources; identify subject usage rates of specific e-mental health resources; and identify subject views on the efficacy of these resources. Participants were an opportunistic sample of 1st-year university students (N = 176) between the ages of 18 and 25. A single session online survey was administered. The hypotheses that extroverted adolescents are less likely to have an awareness of e-mental health resources when compared to neurotic adolescents; and extroverted adolescents are less likely to engage in seeking help from e-mental health resources when compared to neurotic adolescents, were not supported. This study was unable to discern the efficacy of e-mental health resources or the sample's awareness of e-mental health resources. However, it was found that the sample was likely to engage in online help seeking behaviour for mental health concerns. Despite the limited findings, this study suggests several ideas that could be further explored.

KEYWORDS:

• depression
• e-health
• e-mental health
• online health

Notes

N = 176, A = Information Site, B = Text-based Search Engine, C = Visual Search Engine, D = Psychologist led online group chat, E = Self-directed Online Therapy, F = Online Support Group/Discussion Board, G = Online Health Games, H = Facebook or Myspace profiles, I = One-on-one psychologist contact via an Internet technology.