York’s KM Unit is pleased to support the Mobilizing Minds: Pathways to Young Adult Mental Health research group. ResearchImpact’s own David Phipps is a co-applicant on this project and is supporting the group by working to identify lead community and practitioner champions, as well as to develop a strategy for community engagement.
Researchers from the Mobilizing Minds: Pathways To Young Adult Mental Health research group presented at the International Internet and Mental Health Conference.
To learn more about the Mobilizing Minds group check out their recently released web site: www.mobilizingminds.ca
The first presentation by this group focused on how well web sites concerning children’s anxiety disorders answer parents’ questions about treatment choices. Results demonstrated that web sites varied tremendously in the quality and quantity of information provided. The mean readability score across web sites was low, indicating that comprehension of this information may be beyond the scope of many parents. Future knowledge synthesis research is required to answer parents’ questions more comprehensively. This research also demonstrates a need for web sites to support informed decision making by enhancing the quality of information provided. Check out this presentation, WorkshopA3 by Kristin Reynolds here.
The second presentation used an innovative qualitative research methodology. The Internet Blogs of 8 young adults, who were suffering from problems with mood and anxiety disorders, were analyzed in an effort to understand their experiences. These young adults reported a pervasive sense of powerlessness over their all-consuming mental health problems but simultaneously felt that they ‘should’ have control over these experiences. They also reported experiencing a strong sense of disconnection and alienation from others. The results stress the need for a community of practice approach that includes decreasing young adults’ sense of disconnection by designing community systems, which are inviting and give young adults a voice, and include a range of treatment options.
Check out the www.mobilizingminds.ca web site to see this poster.