Website aims to help youth deal with mental health issues
By Jennifer Hough
Irish Examiner
Friday, November 06, 2009
An interactive website aims to tackle mental health problems in young people by helping them understand and deal with their illness.
Launched yesterday, ReachOut.Com, for 16 to 25 year olds, contains more than 300 fact sheets and case studies covering major issues that young people experience, including depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and making the transition to college or from home.
ReachOut.Com was founded in Australia in 1998 is the largest web-based mental health service.
Head of the charity, Jonathan Nicholas, said the recession was proving a massive challenge for young people.
“All around them the dreams of they and their parents are being shattered.
“Having been reared to expect so much, they now have to re-adjust their minds to expect much less,” he said.
“That is why launching this service at this time, for this group is incredibly important. Young people have become increasingly reliant on the internet as a first-stop information source, with 81% of young people saying they use, or would be willing to use, the internet for mental health advice.”
Mr Nicholas said young people suffering with anxiety or depression may not feel comfortable talking to friends or family, but with the website they could access information and advice to help them cope in a safe environment.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands