PEERS – essentially our users, young people between 18-30 from different backgrounds, particularly friends, university students
Questions
- When was the last time you felt really shitty? What caused it?
- What helps you when you feel shitty?
- Who do you go to for help? Why/Why not?
- How do you decide when it is time to get help?
- What fears do you have of getting help?
- When do you feel vulnerable?
- How do you take care of yourself?
- How do you feel right now talking about these things?
- What’s your definition of a mental health issue?
- What do you know about therapy or medication for mental illness?
Main Insights
- Found it difficult to be interviewed about their feelings, particularly with strange people around
- Easier for them to share with people who they know had similar experiences
- Academic struggles seen as personal weakness
- Social media as an additional stressor, taking time offline helps
- Physical distractions to avoid / help facing emotional issues
PROFESSIONALS – experts in the field of mental illness and treatment, psychologists / psychotherapists, a guidance councellor and a helpline
Questions
- How do people reach you?
- What kind of problems are most common? Most pressing? Most difficult to talk about?
- What keeps people from sharing their feelings?
- How can people be made more comfortable and inclined to open up?
- What kind of help is available?
- What is most helpful/important in recovery/resilience?
- What differences are there in the way people deal with their issues?
Main Insights
- Many people don’t reach out until they have been in pain for a long time
- Not sharing as a justified defense mechanism
- Friends and Family may not be equipped to offers support
- Misconceptions and lack of general knowledge about conditions and treatment options
- Trusted personal relationships and open conversation as a key step in recovery
- People cannot be forced to seek help, may not be ready to face their problems
- Many issues stem from self-image / self-concept problems