Mental health on web 2.0: A comprehensive assessment of youtube as a community marketplace for mental health information and social support

Purpose: To assess the mental health (MH) community's likelihood to use YouTube (YT) for information and support--including their reasoning for using/not using YT for MH communication--by age, education and issue involvement. Background: Mental illnesses are a common cause of disability. Research shows people seek support and information on health issues, including MH, on Web 2.0 platforms like YT. New communication patterns on Web 2.0, and improvements in prevention/treatment of mental illnesses, present new avenues for MH communication. Methods: An online Theory of Reasoned Action survey measured likelihood to use YT for MH information and support. Through online invitations via MH websites and Facebook, National Alliance on Mental Illness members/affiliates participated (n=531). Descriptive statistics and correlations were used for data analysis. Results: Respondents said they will use YT to get MH information (31%), provide support (29%), obtain support (24%) and to provide information (18%). Primary concerns were privacy (64%), stigma (43%), and YT's appropriateness for MH communication (43%). Significant correlations were found between likelihood variables and age, education and issue involvement. For example, likelihood to use YT to receive information is significantly correlated with age. Further, using YT to provide information is significantly correlated with education; receiving support on YT is significantly correlated with issue involvement. Conclusions: The MH community often uses YT to provide/obtain information and to provide/obtain support. Findings provide insight on tailoring MH messages online, improving the use of Web 2.0 for interpersonal MH communication, and developing strategies to communicate with the public about MH.