ReachOut Parents: Supporting young people in their family environment through an online service model

Helping all young peoplebe happy and well.

Need

1 in 4 young Australians suffers from a mental health difficulty

The majority of mood disorders emerge before the age of 13

Find some one-on-onetime to talk. I have sixsiblings and they are

either working or dealing with my 3 year

old brother

Parents and teenagers

connecting more deeply

You would see a change in your parents. They might

not argue with you as much about things and if you get depression they will help

you through it

Ideally it would help normalise the idea of trans

or queer kids. Make parents feel less like it’s something they have to

hide or they’ve ‘failed as a parent’

Care to ask me why Iam upset, and listen with real empathy …

Express their support/love for mein a genuine way

Research approach

Parent + young person needs

Literature review

Focus groups

Co-design workshops

User testing

Interviews with young

people

Online survey

We consulted 1,096 parents through:

Parents’ top concerns about their teenagers

Communicating with their teenagerPeer pressureFriendship issuesEducation and study stressSelf-esteemBody imageStress and anxietyDrugs and alcohol BullyingSocial media and technology use

Help-seeking

Well, generally, if there’s an issue that I don’t have any first-hand personal knowledge of, I’ll go to

family or close friends. I’ll discuss with them how they might have dealt with a similar situation. Then

I’ll look online. I’ll go and research something online and then go and talk to an organisation or a

body that specialises in it - Parent

Barriers to getting help

Lack of resources

Not knowing where to get

helpStigma Changing

world

Racism and discrimination

Resistance from child

Negative past experiences

Parent’s needs

A non-judgmental voice that empowers them through reassurance, empathy and practical help while recognising them as experts in their own lives

You’re not always looking for a solution; you’re looking for support

and an alternative, and for someone to say: ‘You’re a good parent. You

may not feel like it, but you are.’

User experience goals

Validate my experience.Help me to understand what my child is going through.Give me practical strategies so that I can choose what is right for me and my family.Show me that I’m not alone.Empower me to help my child.Help me to be connected to my child.

parents.au.reachout.com/welcome