Digital Pathways to Wellness through Community Building and Civic Engagement among Youth in Residential Treatment Programs
Outpatient Department Services, Sickkids Centre for Community Mental Health
Background: Information and communication technology (ICT) is central to contemporary society and particularly for youth as a means for facilitating identity development, social connection, and educational competence. Internet access is beneficial for marginalized youth (e.g., LGBTQ, and youth with disabilities or mental health challenges), providing resources and community. Literature has highlighted that encountering risk offline and online (e.g. overuse, cyberbullying, dangerous contacts and sexual exploitation) is unavoidable. Youth who present with multiple risk factors have been found to encounter more ICT related harm. Youth requiring residential treatment programs (RTPs) are among those with amplified risk.
The Problem: The extant literature on ICT use by youth in RTPs suggests the shift toward community and family integration among RTPs hasn’t formally incorporated the exponential growth of ICT. Understanding how youth in RTPs engage with ICT can inform how to ensure they are not excluded from the benefits of ICT access, while simultaneously supporting safety.
Methods: This qualitative study examined the perceptions and experiences of ICT use among youth in RTPs. In-depth interviews with youth (n=15) and staff (n=25) from four Canadian RTPs were conducted. NVivo software was used to execute data analysis process involving movement from particular to general coding, and comparison of themes.
Results: Youth described how ICT had decreased their experiences of social isolation and mental health stigma and increased their capacity to contend with intersectional marginal identities (e.g., mental health, LGBTQ, child welfare guardianship). Following an initial disconnect and crisis stabilization, ICT facilitated pathways toward enacting agency, leadership, and community and civic engagement among participants. Examples included keeping up with world events, remaining connected to the LGBTQ gaming community, contributing to recovery blogs, and participating in animal advocacy.
Implications: An approach to ICT in RTPs that focuses on positive youth development pathways encourages youth toward individual and social change.