My Circle: Development and Evaluation of an Online Social Networking Platform for Clinically Guided Peer-to-Peer Support for Young People with Mental Health Concerns

EasyChair Preprint 14734

Abstract

Supporting young people's mental wellbeing is a major public health challenge, with 50% of lifetime mental illnesses starting before age 14 and 75% before age 25. Social media is a popular avenue for young people to gain information, but seeking help from non-experts can expose youth to inaccurate information and harmful comments. To address this, yourtown and The University of Sydney created My Circle, a social networking platform offering safe, anonymous, and clinically guided peer support. Moderators ensure discussions are safe and respectful, validating experiences, reducing stigma, and promoting help-seeking. Unlike traditional social media, My Circle is integrated with Kids Helpline for 24/7 professional support.

This presentation focuses on findings from Phase 5 of My Circle’s evaluation, following its development over four phases. Phase 5 involved a 36-week mixed-method evaluation with data from nearly 2,800 participants aged 13-25. The majority were women/girls (62.7%), while 12.4% were men/boys, and 16.7% identified as gender-diverse. Participants reported improved mental wellbeing and reduced psychological distress. Engagement reduced mental health stigma, improved coping skills, and increased help-seeking behavior. Those with the highest distress were more engaged, reporting increased feelings of safety, better coping, and greater service awareness over time. Qualitative feedback highlighted the positive peer connections, supportive environment, and 24/7 access to care. Young people valued the community feel of My Circle, finding it safer and more supportive than other social media platforms, and appreciated the genuine care from moderators.

These results demonstrate the effectiveness of online platforms like My Circle in supporting young people facing mental health challenges, providing a scalable model that can be adapted to other vulnerable groups.

Keyphrases: mental health, online support, social media, social networking, young people

@booklet{EasyChair:14734,
  author    = {Brad Ridout and Krestina Amon and Rowena Forsyth and Andrew Campbell},
  title     = {My Circle: Development and Evaluation of an Online Social Networking Platform for Clinically Guided Peer-to-Peer Support for Young People with Mental Health Concerns},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 14734},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2024}}