Claudette Pretorius Early Stage Researcher/Counselling Psychologist

25/04/2020

Delighted to say that our CHI paper “Searching for Mental Health: A Mixed-Methods Study of Young People's Online Help-seeking” is now available online🤩 special thanks again to my coauthors

22/04/2020

Are you a young person between the ages of 18 and 25?

Then we want to hear from you! We'd like to hear about the online resources you're using to support your mental health during lockdown and how you're finding them.

Survey available here: https://bit.ly/onlinehelpseeking

14/04/2020

I think a lot of people are experiencing a general sense of anxiety at the moment which is a completely normal reaction given the current situation. I came across this great resource developed by the Wellness Society. It's workbook with some great coping strategies to make use of during quarantine and even beyond:

https://thewellnesssociety.org/free-coronavirus-anxiety-workbook/

27/03/2020

It's a trying time for everyone right now and we're all using different ways to support ourselves to get through this. If you're thinking of using apps to help manage during this time, can I suggest you select them either from PsyberGuide (https://psyberguide.org/) or the NHS Mental Health app library (https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/category/mental-health/).

These are apps that have been reviewed and they'll tell you if they're backed by evidence.

The Mental Health App Guide Designed with you in mind. Looking for a mental health app? There are lots to choose from, and we're here to help!

22/03/2020

Findings from my research suggest it can tough to determine the credibility of online mental health resources when looking online. So in collaboration with and the programme, we are launching the campaign.

There are some great online resources that you can use to support your mental health but like in an offline context, you need to make sure they're reliable. We suggest using these 6 questions to determine whether you can

For more information about the campaign, you can visit my blog on the website:

http://team-itn.eu/news-and-blog/believe-it-or-not-campaign or download the resource here

24/02/2020

We are asking young people living in Dublin between the ages of 18 and 25 to consider participating in our study. If you're interested or curious, why not get in touch and I'd be happy to answer your questions.

For more information you can email me on claudette.pretorius@ucdconnect.ie or visit: https://onlinehelpseeking.wixsite.com/userstudy

19/12/2019

The TEAM-ITN DCMH20 in Barcelona in not to be missed, with exciting speakers and *free* registration, what more could you ask from a mental health and technology conference!

You can register on the Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-child-mental-health-2020-tickets-84592166447?ref=estw

19/11/2019

To say that I'm happy that our narrative systematic review, Young People’s Online Help-Seeking and Mental Health Difficulties, is now available is understatement! As always very grateful to able to work with Dr David Coyle and Derek Chambers.

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet

02/09/2019

"...the key to understanding the role of technology in mental health could lie in understanding how it is used, not how often."

Young people today are growing up in a digital world, and the hours they spend on their smartphones every day has many parents worried. But how justified are the concerns?

26/08/2019

Very excited that the first paper from my PhD is now available at JMIR. We conducted a survey with 1300 Irish young people about their online help-seeking behaviour.

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet

26/06/2019

....effects really do depend on the user; benefits are conferred on some whereas risks are exacerbated for others...

A rigorous new paper uses a new scientific approach that shows the panic over teen screen time is likely overstated

16/03/2018

It's been so wonderful to work ReachOut Ireland over the last few months!

Claudette breaks down her research and explains what it could mean for services like ReachOut in the future…