Exploration of global users' experiences of participating in the “Talk to Me” Mass Open Online Course mental health program

Abstract

Young adults are particularly vulnerable to experiencing poor mental health. To improve mental health outcomes, there has been a rise in online mental health interventions. The “Talk to Me” Mass Open Online Course (MOOC) was designed to increase levels of mental health literacy among young adults and those close to them. Although online interventions are readily available to young adults, studies continue to report high attrition rates, indicating an unsatisfactory participant experience. This study explored the experiences of over 1600 global users engaging in the “Talk to Me” MOOC. A cross‐sectional survey design using quantitative and qualitative methods was used to explore user experiences of engaging in the online MOOC. Quantitative results found that 96% of participants found the “Talk to Me” MOOC to be “engaging” or “very engaging.” While 98.2% of participants agreed that their knowledge and skills had increased. Qualitative results found four dominant themes: integration and use of roleplay videos; skills, knowledge, and outcomes; accessibility; and technical references. These results add to the evidence base regarding online mental health interventions and indicate the perceived benefits of the “Talk to Me” MOOC. Participants reported an overall positive experience when engaging in the “Talk to Me” MOOC.