scholarly journals Recruitment of Participants and Delivery of Online Mental Health Resources for Depressed Individuals Using Tumblr: Pilot Randomized Control Trial (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Kelleher ◽  
Megan Moreno ◽  
Megan Pumper Wilt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Depression Symptom ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Risk For Depression

BACKGROUND Adolescents and young adults frequently post depression symptom references on social media; previous studies show positive associations between depression posts and self-reported depression symptoms. Depression is common among young people and this population often experiences many barriers to mental health care. Thus, social media may be a new resource to identify, recruit, and intervene with young people at risk for depression. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this pilot study was to test a social media intervention on Tumblr. We used social media to identify and recruit participants and to deliver the intervention of online depression resources. METHODS This randomized pilot intervention identified Tumblr users age 15-23 who posted about depression using the search term “#depress”. Eligible participants were recruited via Tumblr messages; consented participants completed depression surveys and were then randomized to an intervention of online mental health resources delivered via a Tumblr message, while control participants did not receive resources. Postintervention online surveys assessed resource access and usefulness and control groups were asked whether they would have liked to receive resources. Analyses included t tests. RESULTS A total of 25 participants met eligibility criteria. The mean age of the participants was 17.5 (SD 1.9) and 65% were female with average score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 of 17.5 (SD 5.9). Among the 11 intervention participants, 36% (4/11) reported accessing intervention resources and 64% (7/11) felt the intervention was acceptable. Among the 14 control participants, only 29% (4/14) of reported that receiving resources online would be acceptable (P=.02). Participants suggested anonymity and ease of use as important characteristics in an online depression resource. CONCLUSIONS The intervention was appropriately targeted to young people at risk for depression, and recruitment via Tumblr was feasible. Most participants in the intervention group felt the social media approach was acceptable, and about a third utilized the online resources. Participants who had not experienced the intervention were less likely to find it acceptable. Future studies should explore this approach in larger samples. Social media may be an appropriate platform for online depression interventions for young people.

Reddit Users’ Experiences of Suicidal Thoughts During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis of r/Covid19_support Posts (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allie Slemon ◽  
Corey McAuliffe ◽  
Trevor Goodyear ◽  
Liza McGuinness ◽  
Elizabeth Shaffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is having considerable impacts on population-level mental health, with research illustrating an increased prevalence in suicidal thoughts due to pandemic stressors. While the drivers of suicidal thoughts amid the pandemic are poorly understood, qualitative research holds great potential for expanding upon projections from pre-pandemic work and contextualizing emerging epidemiological data. Despite calls for qualitative inquiry, there is a paucity of qualitative research examining experiences of suicidality related to COVID-19. The use of publicly available data from social media offers timely and pertinent information into ongoing pandemic-related mental health, including individual experiences of suicidal thoughts. OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is to examine online posts that discuss suicidal thoughts within one Reddit community r/COVID19_support with the aim to identify contributing stressors and coping strategies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This study draws on online posts from within the Reddit community r/COVID19_support that describe users’ suicidal thoughts during and related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from creation of this subreddit on February 12, 2020 until December 31, 2020. Using the search term “suicide”, we used the NCapture add-on tool, hosted by NVivo, to conduct our investigation. A qualitative thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke, was conducted to generate themes reflecting users’ experiences of suicidal thoughts. RESULTS A total of 83 posts from 57 users were included in the analysis. Reddit posts described a range of users’ lived experiences of suicidal thoughts related to the pandemic, including deterioration in mental health, complex emotions associated with suicidal thinking, and concern that suicidal thoughts may progress to action. Seven prominent and compounding stressors were identified as contributing to Reddit users’ suicidal thoughts, including social isolation, employment and finances, virus exposure and COVID-19 illness, uncertain timeline of the pandemic, news and social media, pre-existing mental health conditions, and lack of access to mental health resources. Some users described individual coping strategies used in attempt to manage suicidal thoughts, however these were recognized as insufficient for addressing the multilevel stressors of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Multiple and intersecting stressors have contributed to individuals’ experiences of suicidal thoughts in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring thoughtful and complex public health and policy responses. While ongoing challenges exist with self-disclosure of mental health challenges on social media, Reddit and other online platforms may a supportive space for users to share suicidal thoughts and discuss potential coping strategies.

scholarly journals Humanizing Digital Mental Health through Social Media: Centering Experiences of Gang-Involved Youth Exposed to High Rates of Violence

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 117822261879707 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R Frey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Young People ◽  
Community Violence ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Community Violence Exposure ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
Access To Health

As the lives of young people expand further into digital spaces, our understandings of their expressions and language on social media become more consequential for providing individualized and applicable mental health resources. This holds true for young people exposed to high rates of community violence who may also lack access to health resources offline. Social media may provide insights into the impacts of community violence exposure on mental health. However, much of what is shared on social media contains localized language and context, which poses challenges regarding interpretation. In this perspective, I offer insights gained from the Beyond the Bullets: The Complexities and Ethical Challenges of Interpreting Social Media Posts workshop during the Digital Interventions in Mental Health conference in London, England: (1) social media as an underutilized environmental context in mental health services; (2) interpreting the meaning of social media posts is challenging, and there are additional challenges when users are exposed to offline violence and (3) the importance of having various perspectives when interpreting social media posts to build contextually nuanced and theoretically based understandings of digital social behavior.

The Relationship Between Highly Visual Social Media and Young People’s Mental Health: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alanna McCrory
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
The Impact

UNSTRUCTURED Users of highly visual social media (HVSM), such as Snapchat and Instagram, share their messages through images, rather than relying on words. A significant proportion of people that use these platforms are adolescents. Previous research reveals mixed evidence regarding the impact of online social technologies on this age group’s mental wellbeing, but it is uncertain whether the psychological effects of visual content alone differ from text-driven social media. This scoping review maps existing literature that has published evidence about highly visual social media, specifically its psychological impact on young people. Nine electronic databases and grey literature from 2010 until March 2019 were reviewed for articles describing any aspect of visual social media, young people and their mental health. The screening process retrieved 239 articles. With the application of eligibility criteria, this figure was reduced to 25 articles for analysis. Results indicate a paucity of data that exclusively examines HVSM. The predominance of literature relies on quantitative methods to achieve its objectives. Many findings are inconsistent and lack the richness that qualitative data may provide to explore the reasons for theses mixed findings.

scholarly journals Medium-term health and social outcomes in adolescents following sexual assault: a prospective mixed-methods cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venetia Clarke ◽  
Andrea Goddard ◽  
Kaye Wellings ◽  
Raeena Hirve ◽  
Marta Casanovas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Young People ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Social Outcomes ◽  
Study Entry ◽  
Medium Term

Abstract Purpose To describe medium-term physical and mental health and social outcomes following adolescent sexual assault, and examine users’ perceived needs and experiences. Method Longitudinal, mixed methods cohort study of adolescents aged 13–17 years recruited within 6 weeks of sexual assault (study entry) and followed to study end, 13–15 months post-assault. Results 75/141 participants were followed to study end (53% retention; 71 females) and 19 completed an in-depth qualitative interview. Despite many participants accessing support services, 54%, 59% and 72% remained at risk for depressive, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders 13–15 months post-assault. Physical symptoms were reported more frequently. Persistent (> 30 days) absence from school doubled between study entry and end, from 22 to 47%. Enduring mental ill-health and disengagement from education/employment were associated with psychosocial risk factors rather than assault characteristics. Qualitative data suggested inter-relationships between mental ill-health, physical health problems and disengagement from school, and poor understanding from schools regarding how to support young people post-assault. Baseline levels of smoking, alcohol and ever drug use were high and increased during the study period (only significantly for alcohol use). Conclusion Adolescents presenting after sexual assault have high levels of vulnerability over a year post-assault. Many remain at risk for mental health disorders, highlighting the need for specialist intervention and ongoing support. A key concern for young people is disruption to their education. Multi-faceted support is needed to prevent social exclusion and further widening of health inequalities in this population, and to support young people in their immediate and long-term recovery.

scholarly journals A Mobile App for Prolonged Grief among Bereaved Parents: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakel Eklund ◽  
Maarten Eisma ◽  
Paul Boelen ◽  
Filip Arnberg ◽  
Josefin Sveen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Bereaved Parents

Introduction: Bereaved parents have elevated risk to develop mental health problems, yet, few studies have evaluated the effect of psychosocial interventions developed for bereaved parents. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), both face-to-face or digitally delivered, has shown to be an effective intervention for prolonged grief symptoms. Self-help mobile apps offer various advantages and studies show improved mental health after app interventions. No app has yet been evaluated targeting prolonged grief in bereaved parents. Therefore, the aim of this planned study is to develop and examine the effectiveness of a CBT-based mobile app, called My Grief, in reducing symptoms of prolonged grief, as well as other psychological symptoms, in bereaved parents. Another aim is to assess users experiences and adverse events of My Grief. Methods and analysis: We will conduct a two-armed randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Parents living in Sweden, who lost a child to cancer between one and ten years ago, with elevated symptoms of prolonged grief, will be recruited to participate in the trial. The content of My Grief covers four main domains (Learn: Self-monitoring: Exercises: Get support) and builds on principles of CBT and the proven-effective PTSD Coach app. Participants in the intervention group will fill out online questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12-months follow-ups, and the waitlist-controls at baseline and at 3 months. The primary outcome will be prolonged grief symptoms at the 3 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes are posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms, quality of life, and cognitive behavioral variables (i.e., avoidance, rumination, negative cognitions). Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been received from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (project no. 2021-00770). If the app is shown to be effective, the app will be made publicly accessible on app stores, so that it can benefit other bereaved parents. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04552717.

scholarly journals Establishing a Theory-Based Multi-Level Approach for Primary Prevention of Mental Disorders in Young People

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9445
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Lo Moro ◽  
Emma Soneson ◽  
Peter B. Jones ◽  
Julieta Galante
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Local Stakeholder ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Multi Level

The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders and psychosocial distress among young people exceeds the capacity of mental health services. Social and systemic factors determine mental health as much as individual factors. To determine how best to address multi-level risk factors, we must first understand the distribution of risk. Previously, we have used psychometric methods applied to two epidemiologically-principled samples of people aged 14–24 to establish a robust, latent common mental distress (CMD) factor of depression and anxiety normally distributed across the population. This was linearly associated with suicidal thoughts and non-suicidal self-harm such that effective interventions to reduce CMD across the whole population could have a greater total benefit than those that focus on the minority with the most severe scores. In a randomised trial of mindfulness interventions in university students (the Mindful Student Study), we demonstrated a population-shift effect whereby the intervention group appeared resilient to a universal stressor. Given these findings, and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we argue that population-based interventions to reduce CMD are urgently required. To target all types of mental health determinants, these interventions must be multi-level. Careful design and evaluation, interdisciplinary work, and extensive local stakeholder involvement are crucial for these interventions to be effective.

An Assessment of Existential Worldview Function among Young Women at Risk for Depression and Anxiety—A Multi-Method Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-203
Author(s):  
Christina Sophia Lloyd ◽  
Britt af Klinteberg ◽  
Valerie DeMarinis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Ontological Security ◽  
Outpatient Psychotherapy ◽  
Mental Health Concern ◽  
Risk For Depression

Increasing rates of psychiatric problems like depression and anxiety among Swedish youth, predominantly among females, are considered a serious public mental health concern. Multiple studies confirm that psychological as well as existential vulnerability manifest in different ways for youths in Sweden. This multi-method study aimed at assessing existential worldview function by three factors: 1) existential worldview, 2) ontological security, and 3) self-concept, attempting to identify possible protective and risk factors for mental ill-health among female youths at risk for depression and anxiety. The sample comprised ten females on the waiting list at an outpatient psychotherapy clinic for teens and young adults. Results indicated that both functional and dysfunctional factors related to mental health were present, where the quality and availability of significant interpersonal relations seemed to have an important influence. Examples of both an impaired worldview function and a lack of an operating existential worldview were found. Psychotherapeutic implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Can the internet tell that you’re depressed? Machine learning of language use on Twitter reveals weak and non-specific predictions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Kelley ◽  
Caoimhe Ní Mhaonaigh ◽  
Louise Burke ◽  
Robert Whelan ◽  
Claire Gillan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Indirect Measures ◽  
Out Of Sample

Background: Depressed individuals use language differently than healthy controls and it has been proposed that social media posts could therefore be used to identify depression. But much of the evidence behind this claim relies on indirect measures of mental health that are sometimes circular, such as statements of self-diagnosis (“Got an OCD diagnosis today”) on social media or membership in disorder-specific online forums. Relatedly, few studies have tested if these language features are specific to depression versus other aspects of mental health. Methods: We analyzed the Tweets of 1,006 participants who completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression and 8 other mental health conditions. Daily Tweets were subjected to textual analysis and the resulting linguistic features were used to train an Elastic Net model on depression severity, using nested cross validation. We then tested performance in a held-out test set (30%), comparing predictions of depression versus 8 other aspects of mental health. Results: The depression trained model had only modest predictive performance when tested out of sample, explaining just 2.5% of variance in depression symptoms (R2 = 0.025). The performance of this model was as-good or superior when used to identify other aspects of mental health: schizotypy (R2 = 0.035), social anxiety (R2 = 0.025), eating disorders (R2 = 0.025), generalized anxiety (R2 = 0.041), above chance for obsessive-compulsive disorder (R2 = 0.011), apathy (R2 = 0.008), but not significant for alcohol abuse (R2 = -0.012).

scholarly journals Depression profiles among adolescents and their parents: A group-based multi-trajectory modeling

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Zhou ◽  
Xiaoning Sun
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Family System ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Chinese Family ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Trajectory Modeling ◽  
Risk For Depression

Background: Early onset of depression predicts unfavorable psychosocial and health outcomes, and depression often co-occurs for children and their parents, yet family profiles of depression trajectories are not fully examined. Methods: This population-based longitudinal prospective cohort study included 2,111 families drawn from the Chinese Family Panel Study (CFPS) with biannual assessments from 2010 to 2018. Group-based multi-trajectory modeling was used to identify depression trajectories of children, fathers, and mothers. Results: Six distinct profiles of depression symptoms were identified: 1) low stable among all family members (35.6%); (2) low increasing in child and moderate stable in parents (13.1%); (3) low increasing in child, father resurging, and mother high increasing (3.2%); (4) low/moderate stable in child and father, and moderate increasing in mother (26.8%); (5) low/moderate stable in child and mother, and moderate increasing in father (12.5%); (6) moderate/high symptoms in all family members (8.8%). Conclusions: Based upon multi-trajectory findings of family depression profiles, when adolescents are at risk for depression, there is likely at least one parent concurrently at risk for depression, but not vice versa. Families with social disadvantages and children of delayed developmental milestones are at elevated risk for depression. Even when children are at low risk for depression, depression in parents can spill over to impact other psychosocial and health outcomes. These findings suggest examining depression and its associating psychosocial factors could help identify trajectories of varying onset and continuity, which can inform early prevention and intervention from a family system perspective.

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