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Adolescents' views about an internet platform for adolescents with mental health problems

Jano Havas (Department of Social Medicine and Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands, and Youth Health Care Division, Regional Public Health Service, South Limburg, Geleen, The Netherlands)
Jascha de Nooijer (Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands)
Rik Crutzen (Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands)
Frans Feron (Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands, and Youth Health Care Division, Regional Public Health Service, South Limburg, Geleen, The Netherlands)

Health Education

ISSN: 0965-4283

Article publication date: 19 April 2011

1754

Abstract

Purpose

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The purpose of this paper is to examine the needs and views of adolescents regarding the development of online support for mental health problems.

Design/methodology/approach

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Semi‐structured qualitative focus group interviews were conducted with ten groups of Dutch adolescents (n=106), aged 12‐19 years, from four urban secondary schools offering different levels of education in the Southeastern part of The Netherlands. Interviews were verbally transcribed and analysed with Nvivo, using a classification based on the research questions.

Findings

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The participants reported that they searched on the internet to get information or help for some mental health problems. They also expressed the need for a youth healthcare website offering information, self‐tests and anonymous help. They had different ideas about the layout of such a website, which were related to their educational level. Reliability of such a website was an important issue.

Practical implications

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Adolescents reported a distinct need for online information and help for mental health problems. Youth healthcare organisations could meet this need by creating an innovative additional assistance method. These organisations should cooperate with website developers, taking into account that adolescents with different levels of education have different preferences regarding the interventions for online information and help.

Originality/value

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This paper provides a conclusive examination of the needs and views of adolescents regarding development of online support for mental health problems.

Keywords

Citation

Havas, J., de Nooijer, J., Crutzen, R. and Feron, F. (2011), "Adolescents' views about an internet platform for adolescents with mental health problems", Health Education, Vol. 111 No. 3, pp. 164-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654281111123466

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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