More Evidence-Based Internet Self-Help Depression Websites Now Available

Gordana Culjak,Nick Kowalenko,Rene Leveaux,Peter Nicholls

doi:10.3390/jtaer2010008

Abstract

The aim of this research study is to evaluate the availability and classification of the types of currently available Internet self-help websites for depression. Its aim is to develop an understanding of what is available for people at risk of depression who would otherwise perhaps not seek help and to investigate whether such useful resources are on the increase. In Australia, depression is the top-ranked cause of nonfatal disability. Over 27% of young adults have a current mental disorder, with depression being the most prevalent (10.8%). This paper investigates the availability and type of self-help websites that are available for people suffering from mild to moderate depression, as a step towards providing avenues for care for this population of sufferers. The most important finding of this study was that not only were there an increased number of websites available as self-help resources, but that over the three year period, there has been a statistically significant increase in the proportion of websites that are evidence-based. This is an important factor for sufferers of mild to moderate depression who are looking for access to online self-help resources.

Highlights

The Internet is growing as an influential source of knowledge and information
All Chi-squared calculations used the S-Plus Statistical Package [10], the Fisher’s Exact Test was calculated by hand, and all P-values are two-sided. This 2005 study found that, as in 2002, highly reliable and directly helpful Internet self-help resources were not instantly accessible, nor readily available
The most important finding of this study was that were there an increased number of websites available as self-help resources, but that over the three year period, there has been a statistically significant increase in the proportion of websites that are evidence-based. This is an important factor for sufferers of mild to moderate depression who are looking for access to online self-help resources, as the majority of the more severe cases are assumed to need attention from a heath care professional

Summary

Introduction

The Internet is growing as an influential source of knowledge and information. The number of people using the Internet in 1995 was 2.3 million. In 1998, it had grown to 300 million, with an exponential growth pattern [14]. It has been found that only four in ten people with diagnosable behaviour or mental disorders ever seek help from a health professional [13]. Internet-based intervention has been suggested to be on the increase as a technological innovation [12]. It is suggested that the Internet may help in providing access to a pathway to care for these people

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