Helping young people going through tough times: perspectives for a peer-to-peer chat support system

Abstract

Chat systems are promising ways to engage young people and to support them in overcoming barriers in help-seeking behaviour. Current mental health chat services are mostly focused on crisis support and suicide prevention. In contrast this study is on a chat system for early help-seekers rather than acutely distressed individuals, and where these help-seekers chat with a peer rather than a counsellor. We conducted interviews, a focus group and a participatory design workshop with potential peer- supporters. Here we present the main themes and goals that emerged and discuss considerations for the development of the system.