Hopelab and Well Being Trust, which sponsored the survey, gathered data from 1,300 14- to 22-year-olds in February and March 2018.
The researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale to identify respondents as currently having either no, mild or moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
Using these scores, the researchers found respondents with moderate to severe depressive symptoms use digital health resources more often than their peers without depressive symptoms.
Five survey findings on how teens and young adults with moderate to severe depressive symptoms use digital health resources:
1. Nine out of ten (90 percent) say they have gone online for information on mental health issues, compared to 48 percent of respondents with no depressive symptoms.
2. Three-quarters (76 percent) of respondents said they have used health-related apps, compared to 58 percent of those without symptoms. Thirty-eight percent reported using apps for mental well-being, including meditation, stress reduction and depression.
3. Three in four (75 percent) respondents said they have watched, listened to or read people sharing information on their health experiences online, compared to 54 percent of those with no depressive symptoms.
4. Just over half (53 percent) of respondents have attempted to look for people online with similar health concerns via social media, blogs and online forums, compared to 27 percent of those who report no depressive symptoms.
5. Almost one in three (32 percent) of respondents said they used online tools to connect with a health provider through texting, video chat, or an app, compared to 13 percent of those with no depressive symptoms.
To access the full survey, click here.
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