Toscos Tammy, Coupe Amanda, Flanagan Mindy, Drouin Michelle, Carpenter Maria, Reining Lauren, Roebuck Amelia, Mirro Michael J
Parkview Research Center, Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN, United States.
Department of Psychology, Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN, United States.
JMIR Ment Health. 2019 Jun 21;6(6):e13230. doi: 10.2196/13230.
High rates of mental illness, stress, and suicidality among teens constitute a major public health concern in the United States. However, treatment rates remain low, partially because of barriers that could be mitigated with tech-based telemental health (TMH) resources, separate from or in addition to traditional care.
This study aimed to analyze TMH resource usage by high school students to establish current user characteristics and provide a framework for future development.
A total of 2789 students were surveyed regarding demographics, recent anxiety and depression symptoms, suicidality, and stress; people with whom they could openly and honestly discuss stress or problems, and prior TMH use. Logistic regression models and a general linear model were used to test relationships between variables.
Overall, 30.58% (853/2789) and 22.91% (639/2789) of students reported moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively, in the past 2 weeks; 16.24% (414/2550) had seriously considered suicide in the past year, consistent with national averages. Meanwhile, 16.03% (447/2789) of students had previously used at least 1 of 4 types of TMH resources (ie, self-help, anonymous chat, online counselor, or crisis text line). Teens reporting depression symptoms, higher stress, or suicidality were less likely to talk to a parent about stress or problems and more likely to tell no one. Suicidality was related to the use of all 4 types of TMH resources. Depression symptoms were related to the use of anonymous chat and crisis text line, and those with higher stress were more likely to have used an online counselor. Those reporting anxiety symptoms were less likely to have no one to talk to and more likely to have used a self-help resource.
Youth struggling with mental health symptoms, some of whom lack real-life confidants, are using existing TMH support, with resource preferences related to symptoms. Future research should consider these preferences and assist in the creation of specialized, evidence-based TMH resources.
青少年中精神疾病、压力和自杀倾向的高发生率是美国主要的公共卫生问题。然而，治疗率仍然很低，部分原因是存在一些障碍，而基于技术的远程心理健康（TMH）资源可以缓解这些障碍，这些资源可以独立于传统护理，也可以作为传统护理的补充。
本研究旨在分析高中生对TMH资源的使用情况，以确定当前用户特征，并为未来发展提供一个框架。
对总共2789名学生进行了调查，内容包括人口统计学信息、近期焦虑和抑郁症状、自杀倾向和压力；他们可以与谁公开诚实地讨论压力或问题，以及之前对TMH资源的使用情况。使用逻辑回归模型和一般线性模型来检验变量之间的关系。
总体而言，在过去两周内，分别有30.58%（共853/2789）和22.91%（共639/2789）的学生报告有中度至重度焦虑和抑郁症状；在过去一年中，16.24%（共414/2550）的学生曾认真考虑过自杀，这与全国平均水平一致。与此同时，16.03%（共447/2789）的学生此前至少使用过4种TMH资源中的1种（即自助、匿名聊天、在线咨询师或危机短信热线）。报告有抑郁症状、压力较大或有自杀倾向的青少年不太可能与父母谈论压力或问题，而且更有可能谁都不告诉。自杀倾向与所有4种TMH资源的使用有关。抑郁症状与匿名聊天和危机短信热线的使用有关，压力较大的学生更有可能使用在线咨询师。报告有焦虑症状的学生不太可能找不到人倾诉，并且更有可能使用自助资源。
与心理健康症状作斗争的青少年，其中一些人缺乏现实生活中的知己，正在使用现有的TMH支持，资源偏好与症状有关。未来的研究应考虑这些偏好，并协助创建专门的、基于证据的TMH资源。
