Anna Mackenzie, Reach Out Project
Manager, provides a brief update on the program that has made such
an impact on the lives of so many young Australians going through
tough times...
The Reach Out crew thought it was high time we dropped in to say
'hi' to the Teachers Network members and to give you a bit of an
update about where things are up to on ReachOut.com and some of our plans for
2010.
What is ReachOut.com?
As most of you would already know, 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.
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.
How many young people use the site +
what do they say?
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.
Through independent research and online surveys, ReachOut.com has
demonstrated significant outcomes for young people including:
- 82% of young people learnt more about mental health issues
- 85% reported ReachOut.com is a service they trust
- 81% would tell a friend about Reach Out
- 86% would return to ReachOut.com if they were going through a
tough time.
- 59% of repeat visitors going through a tough time went to get
professional help
- 72% reported Reach Out made them feel like they were not
alone.
What's new
- Have you seen the new fact sheet on Mindfulness
and related blog post yet? We're
keen to hear your thoughts on how we might enrich this area. Please
let us know your ideas below!
- We have a series of Infobus sessions coming up on the ROTreat
forums that you might like to share with your students. Check out
the Infobus for more details as
they arise.
- We also take the Reach Out InfoBus into Habbo Hotel every fortnight. Check out the
sessions that are running and advertise them to your students
We continue to work towards greater interactivity and community
on the site, and hope to be able to update you about some exciting
plans for website enhancements soon.
Using Reach Out in your
work
Many of you have possibly already tried out some of the practical
ideas from the Reach Out Teachers Network site explaining how to
use a range of Reach Out resources with
your classes. How have these ideas worked for you? We'd love to
hear about how ReachOut.com has been received by young people you
work with, and your ideas for adding extra value to the site.
Looking forward to hearing from you!