Abstract
BackgroundThe wide mental health treatment gap continues to pose a global and local public health challenge. Online support groups are on the rise and could be used to complement formal treatment services for mental health.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the prevalence of online support group use and explore factors associated with the use in the general population using data from a national cross-sectional mental health survey in Singapore.MethodsSingapore residents aged 18 years and above participated in a nationally representative household survey in which the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was administered by trained interviewers to examine the use of online support groups for mental health. Multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the association of online support group use with various sociodemographic and health factors.ResultsA total of 6110 respondents with complete data were included in this study. Overall, 10 individuals per 1000 adults (1%) reported seeking help from online support groups for their mental health problems. Compared to younger adults (those aged 18 to 34 years) and those with university education, individuals aged 50 to 64 years (P<.001; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.3) and those with preuniversity qualifications (P=.02; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.8) were less likely to use online support groups for mental health, respectively. Participants with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) mental disorder were 6.8 times more likely (P<.001; 95% CI 3.0-15.4) to use an online support group; in particular, individuals with major depressive disorder (P<.001; OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.1-13.8) and obsessive compulsive disorder (P=.01; OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.7) were more likely to use an online support group for their mental health.ConclusionsOnline support groups could be used to complement formal treatment services, especially for mood and anxiety-related disorders. As online support group use for mental health issues may be more prevalent among younger people, early detection and accurate information in online support groups may guide individuals toward seeking professional help for their mental health problems.
Highlights
The internet is increasingly recognized as a valuable self-help resource for individuals
This study analyzed data from a national cross-sectional mental health survey to examine the prevalence of online support group participation for mental health, and the sociodemographic and health status factors associated with those who were more likely to engage in these activities
This study found that a substantial proportion (58.2%) of those using an online support group had met the criteria for a DSM-IV mental disorder
Summary
The internet is increasingly recognized as a valuable self-help resource for individuals. A highly publicized study from the Pew Research Center reported that 510 out of 3001 (17%) internet users in the United States had contacted health-related online support groups [21] This survey accounted for chronic physical conditions, and did not include the use of online support groups for mental health problems. A meta-analysis of US population data [22] indicated that 2.7 to 3.3 people per 1000 community-dwelling adults were likely to have visited online mental health support groups or chat rooms, and the figure remained stable despite annual reports of an upward trend in online activities and internet access across the United States [23]. As online support group use for mental health issues may be more prevalent among younger people, early detection and accurate information in online support groups may guide individuals toward seeking professional help for their mental health problems
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