Evidence suggests that young people who contemplate suicide or self-harm seldom seek professional support, but are more likely to turn to peers on social networks for help.1 Indeed, the face of adolescent social interaction has changed radically in the past decade with increasing ease of access to online social media. This has also brought about the phenomena of cyber-bullying, predominantly involving teenagers and with its own consequences for the mental health of victims, as has been highlighted in press coverage of related suicide attempts.
Since its inception in 1999, the Beat Bullying Group (www.thebbgroup.org) has been working to raise awareness of and provide support for victims of online and offline bullying. Using a similar model of peer support and mentoring from trained volunteers, the group is now poised to launch MindFull (www.mindfull.org, @MindFullUK); an online forum aimed at children aged 11–17 years, encouraging access to mental health information and support.
The MindFull website is a closely moderated forum where users may chat with appropriately trained peer mentors, mental health professionals, and trained counsellors. Oversight by automated and manned systems to pick up inappropriate behaviour or safeguarding issues is in place, and all users may flag up concerns about other users to the site administrators at any stage. Volunteers spend a few hours per week online and are available to engage with users.
The official launch on 5 July was supported by speeches from OCD sufferer and Conservative MP Charles Walker, as well as Ed Milliband and Professor Tanya Byron. I also attended and spoke to the audience of my involvement and hopes to engage colleagues in supporting the venture and signposting young patients and their families to the website.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2013
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