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The Internet and Mental Health Research Project

 

I am a researcher from Dundee University and I am investigating the impact of the Internet on people with mental health problems.

How does using the Internet affect your life?

Please complete the following questions to help us find out. These findings will inform mental health organisations and service providers about the issues that affect the lives of people with mental health problems. There are two types of questions: more factual ones and ones that give you room to elaborate your feelings about using the Internet.

Any details will be kept confidential. If you have any questions, please contact Hester Parr: h.parr@dundee.ac.uk. Thank you for your help.

Who should complete this questionnaire?

Anyone who has experienced mental health problems and who uses the internet for information and support for their mental health. The purpose of this research is to find out how effective the internet can be at meeting the needs of people with mental health problems and what particular features of internet use are most important to people who use it. Evaluating peer-support via on-line chat rooms, forums, email lists and bulletin boards are a particular interest.

About this research

Hester Parr of Dundee University is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to conduct a research project into mental health and everyday life. Understanding Internet use in the everyday life of people with enduring mental health problems is a key part of this research. Find out more background information

Consent Form

Please fill in this form to indicate that you are prepared to take part in this research project.

By giving your consent to participate in this study, you are acknowledging that you have been given the opportunity to ask further questions and get more information. Your participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time, without giving a reason. Your participation in this study will not affect your mental health care in any way.

The details you give will be entirely confidential and kept only by the researcher. Any contribution you make will be anonymous.

Please note: This is a mandatory field. If you are happy to take part in this study, please tick the 'Yes' box below giving us your consent.

Do you understand the above information and agree to take part in this study?* 

Section 1: Information about you

Are you:
Other (please specify):
What is your Occupation:
Do you currently receive mental health services?:
For how long have you experienced mental health problems?:
For how long have you been using the Internet?:
If your answer is you use the Internet every day, how many hours per day?:
Which website did you access this survey on?:
How often do you spend on the site through which you accessed this questionnaire?:

Section 2: Access and motivations for Internet use

Why did you start to use the website through which you accessed this survey?:
Do you think of the Internet as part of your coping strategy?:
What are the main benefits of using mental health related websites and online forums?:
What kinds of knowledge have you gained about mental health issues?:
Has the Internet encouraged you to change anything about your support in everyday life?:

Section 3: Social Life on the Internet

Do you feel that you are part of an on-line community and, if so, how would you define that?:
What kind of things make you feel like you belong to this community?:
Do you think of the forum(s) you use as a stable source of support and, if so, why:
Has the quality of your social contacts increased? In other words, are there positive differences about the way you interact on-line in comparison to normal everyday life? Please give examples if you can.:
How does the support you get on-line compare with support in your everyday life off-line?:
Is there a risk that people with mental health problems become isolated from other on-line users in non-mental health related sites?:

The Future

Will you continue to use the Internet? And what might the barriers be to you doing so?:
Do you think there is potential for the Internet to help challenge stigma about mental ill-health ?:
Please add any other comments about your experience of the Internet:

Contact Details

Your Name:
Date:    
If you wish to leave contact details please do so:
Telephone contact:
Email address:
If you wish to take part in a follow-up telephone interview please state here: