Discussion forum engagement in an online intervention for bipolar disorder

This study evaluated the ways in which people with bipolar disorder engaged with peer support forums included within the MoodSwings 2.0 online self-help program. The majority of participants chose to use the forums and discussed a broad range of topics. Those who used the forums most reported a number of improvements in symptom severity and social support

Evaluating discussion board engagement in the MoodSwings online self-help program for bipolar disorder: protocol for an observational prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Online, self-guided programs exist for a wide range of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, and discussion boards are often part of these interventions. The impact engagement with these discussion boards has on the psychosocial well-being of users is largely unknown. More specifically we need to clarify the influence of the type and level of engagement on outcomes. The primary aim of this exploratory study is to determine if there is a relationship between different types (active, passive or none) and levels (high, mid and low) of discussion board engagement and improvement in outcome measures from baseline to follow up, with a focus on self-reported social support, stigma, quality of life and levels of depression and mania. The secondary aim of this study is to identify any differences in demographic variables among discussion users. METHODS/DESIGN: The present study is a sub-study of the MoodSwings 2.0 3-arm randomised controlled trial (discussion board only (arm 1), discussion board plus psychoeducation (arm 2), discussion board, psychoeducation plus cognitive behavioural therapy-based tools (arm 3)). Discussion engagement will be measured via online participant activity monitoring. Assessments include online self-report as well as blinded phone interviews at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12&nbsp;months follow up. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will help to inform future programs about whether or not discussion boards are a beneficial inclusion in online self-help interventions. It will also help to determine if motivating users to actively engage in online discussion is necessary, and if so, what level of engagement is optimal to produce the most benefit. Future programs may benefit through being able to identify those most likely to poorly engage, based on demographic variables, so motivational strategies can be targeted accordingly. <br /

Informações de saúde mental on-line : o que aprendemos com as métricas de mídias sociais na Semana de Saúde Mental do BuzzFeed

Introduction: The Internet has seen rapid growth in the number of websites focusing on mental health content. Considering the increased need for access to accurate information about mental health treatment, it is important to understand the promotion of this information online. Objective: To analyze BuzzFeed’s Mental Health Week (BFMHW) interactions on its own website and in related social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) using metrics of information delivery in mental health topics. Methods: We extracted social media metrics from the 20 posts with the highest number of BuzzFeed interactions on the BFMHW website and from 41 videos available on the BFMHW playlist created by the BuzzFeed Video profile on YouTube. We analyzed the format and content used in BuzzFeed’s publishing methods as well as the following social media metrics: exposure (presence online, views and time online), influence (likes) and engagement (comments, shares, replies and BuzzFeed interactions). Results: Analysis of the variables revealed that audience engagement is associated with the number of medias in which the content is published: views on YouTube and shares on Facebook (0.71, p<0.001), total interactions on Facebook (0.66, p<0.001) and BuzzFeed number of total interactions (0.56, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that videos on YouTube may be an important information channel, including activity and engagement on other medias such as Facebook. Information may be more effective in reaching the audience if it is delivered in more than one media and includes personal experiences, some humor in content and detailed information about treatment.Introdução: O número de sites com foco em conteúdo de saúde mental vem crescendo rapidamente. Considerando a necessidade crescente de acesso a informações precisas sobre tratamento em saúde mental, é importante entender a promoção dessas informações on-line. Objetivo: Analisar as interações da Semana de Saúde Mental do BuzzFeed (BuzzFeed’s Mental Health Week – BFMHW) em seu próprio site e em plataformas de mídia social relacionadas (Facebook, Twitter e YouTube) usando métricas de entrega de informações em tópicos de saúde mental. Métodos: Extraímos métricas de mídias sociais das 20 postagens com o maior número de interações no site da BFMHW e de 41 vídeos disponíveis na playlist da BFMHW criada pelo perfil BuzzFeed Video no YouTube. Analisamos o formato e o conteúdo usados nos métodos de publicação do BuzzFeed, bem como as seguintes métricas de mídias sociais: exposição (presença on-line, visualizações e tempo on-line), influência (curtidas) e engajamento (comentários, compartilhamentos, respostas e interações do BuzzFeed). Resultados: A análise das variáveis revelou que o envolvimento do público está associado ao número de mídias em que o conteúdo é publicado: visualizações no YouTube e compartilhamentos no Facebook (0,71, p <0,001), interações totais no Facebook (0,66, p <0,001) e número de interações totais no BuzzFeed (0,56, p <0,001). Conclusões: Nossos resultados sugerem que o YouTube pode ser um importante canal de informações, incluindo atividades e envolvimento em outras mídias, como o Facebook. As informações podem alcançar o público de forma mais eficaz se forem exibidas em mais de uma mídia e incluírem experiências pessoais, algum humor no conteúdo e informações detalhadas sobre o tratamento

Online ethics: where will the interface of mental health and the internet lead us?

While e-health initiatives are poised to revolutionize delivery and access to mental health care, conducting clinical research online involves specific contextual and ethical considerations. Face-to-face psychosocial interventions can at times entail risk and have adverse psychoactive effects, something true for online mental health programs too. Risks associated with and specific to internet psychosocial interventions include potential breaches of confidentiality related to online communications (such as unencrypted email), data privacy and security, risks of self-selection and self-diagnosis as well as the shortcomings of receiving psychoeducation and treatment at distance from an impersonal website. Such ethical issues need to be recognized and proactively managed in website and study design as well as treatment implementation. In order for online interventions to succeed, risks and expectations of all involved need to be carefully considered with a focus on ethical integrity

Mental health information online: What we have learned from social media metrics in BuzzFeed’s mental health week

Abstract Introduction The Internet has seen rapid growth in the number of websites focusing on mental health content. Considering the increased need for access to accurate information about mental health treatment, it is important to understand the promotion of this information online. Objective To analyze BuzzFeed’s Mental Health Week (BFMHW) interactions on its own website and in related social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) using metrics of information delivery in mental health topics. Methods We extracted social media metrics from the 20 posts with the highest number of BuzzFeed interactions on the BFMHW website and from 41 videos available on the BFMHW playlist created by the BuzzFeed Video profile on YouTube. We analyzed the format and content used in BuzzFeed’s publishing methods as well as the following social media metrics: exposure (presence online, views and time online), influence (likes) and engagement (comments, shares, replies and BuzzFeed interactions). Results Analysis of the variables revealed that audience engagement is associated with the number of medias in which the content is published: views on YouTube and shares on Facebook (0.71, p<0.001), total interactions on Facebook (0.66, p<0.001) and BuzzFeed number of total interactions (0.56, p<0.001). Conclusions Our results suggest that videos on YouTube may be an important information channel, including activity and engagement on other medias such as Facebook. Information may be more effective in reaching the audience if it is delivered in more than one media and includes personal experiences, some humor in content and detailed information about treatment

Fostering early and mid-career research in affective disorders

In the area of affective disorders, the life of an early/mid-career researcher (EMCR; i.e. the first 5&#8211;10 years post-PhD) has become increasingly difficult. Statistics on the 2014 grant outcomes from Australia&#8217;s peak medical funding body, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), indicate that in comparison to the 30.1% success rate for senior fellowships, just 22.4% of early career and 13.5% of mid-career fellowship applications were successful. Statistics regarding NHMRC Project Grant outcomes are similarly disheartening, with less than 30% of all successful project grants going to Chief Investigators (CIAs) without a full or Associate Professorship and only 6.5% of successful applications awarded to new investigators (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2014). Moreover, despite wide recognition that depressive disorders are among the leading causes of disease burden worldwide (Ferrari et al., 2013; World Health Organization, 2004), less than five of the 183 early/mid-career fellowships offered went to individuals with projects specifically targeting bipolar or depressive disorders (based on project titles and keywords listed in the summary details of the 17 Oct 2014 Announcement (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2014)). When seated in the context of mental health research in general, compared to other National Health Priority Areas, mental health received only a very small proportion of available grant funding (7.1% compared to 18.3% and 15.3% for cancer and cardiovascular disease, respectively), which suggests that research targeting mental health is underfunded in Australia at this time. This is particularly clear in relation to the support of early/mid scholars working in these areas (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2014). Successful funding for EMCRs is largely determined by academic track record and translation of outcomes. To develop a competitive track record, EMCRs are acutely aware that they need to &#8216;publish or perish&#8217;, &#8216;make broad collaborations&#8217;, &#8216;cement relationships with industry partners&#8217; &#8211; and the list goes on. However, without the proper supportive infrastructure, at best this kind of progression is significantly hampered and, at worst, the impending exodus of imminent research leaders leaves the future of mental health in a state of uncertainty. This is a sentiment echoed elsewhere in the world (Clark, 2014; National Institute of Health, 2014). High-impact research requires good mentorship and funding. Successful funding requires a good track record and collaborations; but, as young researchers, particularly those of us in the first 2&#8211;3 years post-PhD, we ask &#8216;Is this really obtainable? Where do we begin? Where do we find genuine support to help us to become legitimately competitive?&#8217;. These questions led us to form the Early/Mid-Career Researcher Sub-Committee of the Australasian Society for Bipolar and Depressive Disorders (ASBDD). This committee is dedicated to activities aimed at retaining and promoting early-career scholars working in affective disorder research. In a voluntary capacity, the committee, with the support of the ASBDD, will provide a much needed support network for such researchers through ASBDD membership. We believe that for research output in mood disorders to match the needs in the community, a significant increase in career opportunities for EMCRs will be required. Therefore, we aim to foster improved EMCR outcomes by lobbying for affective disorder-specific EMCR fellowship and project grant funding. We also aim to initiate activities that will facilitate EMCR careers, including collaborative publications, relevant seminars and workshops to discuss and promote EMCRs. These activities would act as a significant impetus for new researchers to enter the field and to actively promote further research in mood disorders. In this way, we aim to build a collaborative cohort of future leaders in bipolar and depressive disorders that will contribute to the promotion of a better research landscape for the future. We invite interested EMCRs to become a part of the ASBDD EMCR membership to promote affective disorders research in Australia