Utilisation of Digital Applications for Personal Recovery Amongst Youth with Mental Health Concerns.

There is an increasing population of youths that report mental health issues. Research has shown that youths are reluctant to seek help for various reasons. A majority of those who do seek help are using digital mental health supports. Subsequently, efforts to promote youth mental health have focused on the use of digital applications as a means of overcoming barriers related to factors including stigma and lack of available services. The worldwide move toward recovery-oriented care led to emerging research on personal recovery amongst youths with mental health concerns. This study sought to address the need for recovery-oriented digital resources for youths. It utilised a qualitative design methodology to develop a rich interpretation of how youths are using digital interventions to support their mental health recovery journey. It sought to understand how existing digital applications are useful for youth recovery and identified characteristics associated with recovery and engagement. The content analysis generated five categories that represent facilitators of youth recovery and the thematic analysis identified key elements of digital applications that support youth recovery. The results offer complimentary support and guidance for recovery-oriented care and the use of digital mental health interventions in the promotion of personal recovery amongst youths.

Internet-based interventions to support recovery in youth: A systematic review.

Personal recovery represents a paradigm shift in how individuals are seen to benefit from mental health interventions, from a narrow view of symptom reduction to a holistic, multi-dimensional view of well-being, functional gains and rehabilitation. Although there is a large body of evidence supporting the use of recovery-oriented care in adults, research on personal recovery amongst youth with mental health concerns is an emerging area of research. Efforts to promote youth mental health have also focussed on the use of digital applications and platforms as a means of overcoming barriers related to factors including stigma and lack of available services. This systematic review aims to review the literature on existing internet-based, youth mental health interventions with regard to (a) identifying elements of the programs that align with the personal recovery and (b) outcome measures utilised in assessing personal recovery. Eleven papers were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Five of the programs reviewed from these eleven papers showed efficacy for recovery processes. The results offer preliminary support and guidance for the use of internet-based mental health interventions in the promotion of personal recovery amongst youth. Future research and practice are suggested to further develop understanding in this area.

Establishing and maintaining social connectivity: An understanding of the lived experiences of older adults residing in regional and rural communities.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand how to plan for an ageing demographic that resides in ever-changing community typologies. DESIGN: Semi-structured in-depth interviews. SETTING: Community settings in rural and regional towns in Queensland. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two people aged over 65 years living in regional and rural Australia. INTERVENTIONS: Qualitative study of social connectedness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Thematic qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Formal and informal social contact, through family, friends and social groups, was found to be important to the everyday lives of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Social connections for older adults are important in maintaining independence and community engagement.