Digital mental health strategies used by young people in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic: ‘Just do it yourself, DIY’

Abstract

Objective: With rising rates of mental health distress amongst youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital resources have been identified as a valuable tools for delivering support to young people. However, many of the websites and apps developed by professionals to support the youth do not take account of the importance young people place on exercising their own agency in managing their mental health. This article investigates how young people in Aotearoa New Zealand used digital resources to manage their mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The study gathered information from semi-structured interviews with 34 young people aged 16–22 years. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Six themes were identified including: searching for online information about mental health; evaluating digital mental health resources; controlling mood through online activity; looking for escape in the virtual world; staying connected online; and giving and receiving support.

Conclusion: Young people’s practices demonstrated their investment in their own agency, a general reluctance to engage with professional resources and recognition of the need to balance the risks and benefits of the informal strategies they preferred. Young people appeared sceptical of professionally-designed mental health resources and interventions and preferred to adapt and re-purpose the wide range of platforms and networks available in their informal digital worlds.