A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The Usage of a Chat-Based Help Service for Young People : A Nationwide Descriptive Study
Authors: Metsäranta, Kiki; Anttila, Minna; Pajamäki, Tatjana; Holappa, Heidi; Välimäki, Maritta
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Issues in Mental Health Nursing
Journal name in source: Issues in mental health nursing
Journal acronym: Issues Ment Health Nurs
Volume: 45
Issue: 10
First page : 1054
Last page: 1064
ISSN: 0161-2840
eISSN: 1096-4673
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2024.2381128
Web address : https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840.2024.2381128
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457530700
Adolescents with subclinical depression are at high risk of developing mental disorders. Early interventions are effective but expensive. Affordable and accessible mental health services are needed. This multimethod study obtained its sample from the database of the Finnish national chat room service and describes the usage of the service among young people in Finland. All chats between 1.1-31.12.2018 were extracted and analysed using quantitative and qualitative methods. The usage frequency was analysed with descriptive statistics, while the specific content of the chat topics was first categorised with content analysis and then quantified and analysed using descriptive statistics. The association between the demographic characteristics and the usage were analysed. A total of 839 young people used chat room services. The great majority of the chat users were girls, and half were 12-14 years old. The use of the chat room varied in terms of the number of words and the duration of the chat discussions. Based on the chat room topics, young people had complex life situations with psychological distress, difficulties related to their social living environment, or they were involved in risky behaviour. The gender and the age of the users influenced their chat room usage. The results of this study can be used in the development of mental health services for young people.
Funding information in the publication:
KM was supported by a grant from HUS Nursing Research Centre (NRC) and the University of Turku.
