ReachOut.com is a web-based service for
young people aged 14-25. It provides information, skills
development, support and resources to assist young people to cope
with mental health difficulties, manage adversity and find ongoing
support in the community. ReachOut.com provides an
entry point for all young people, enhancing their mental health
literacy and facilitating help-seeking.
The development of Reach Out has been informed by a public health
approach, focusing on health promotion, prevention and early
intervention. It uses young people's preferred medium of
communication and help-seeking (after friends and family) - the
internet and other mobile technologies - to connect with young
people and target protective factors that are known to positively
impact on the mental health and wellbeing of young people. These
include positive participation, resilience, life skills
(communication, problem solving and optimistic thinking) and social
connectedness.
Reach Out works with young people at all levels to ensure it is a
trusted and relevant program. Over 330 young people from a variety
of backgrounds have been directly involved in the development and
delivery of the service since its launch in 1999. Through
independent research and online surveys, ReachOut.com has
demonstrated significant outcomes for young people including:
* 77% learnt how to get help to improve their own mental
health
* 83% reported ReachOut.com is a service they trust
* 83% learnt to recognise issues associated with their own mental
health
* 88% of those going through a tough time spoke to someone after
visiting ReachOut.com,
* 38% contacted a professional and 15% were considering it
* 90% would return to ReachOut.com if they were going through a
tough time.
Each month Reach Out receives about 140,000 unique visits
and engages with around 250,000 young Australians annually.
Overall, youth awareness of Reach Out is over 55% , with levels in
rural and regional communities comparable to urban locations.
ReachOut.com has two key sections:
The Find section contains evidenced-based
information on a range of mental health issues, developed in
collaboration with young people and experts as well as personal
stories in which young people talk about the difficulties they have
faced and how they have overcome them.
The Connect section is an area where young
people can connect with others and contribute to the development of
the Reach Out service. This section includes a blog and a
peer-moderated discussion forum where young people can learn from
each other about how to get through difficult times and how to gain
professional help.