title: Online peer support for individuals with depression: a summary of current research and future considerations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Online peer support services are increasingly recognized as valuable resources for individuals living with depression to be proactively involved in the management of their mental health and well-being.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The paper summarizes the research which has thus far explored the efficacy of online peer support services for people with depression and raises important questions for consideration of future research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published literature on online peer support services for people with depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online peer support services can provide many advantages for people living with depression. However, given the limited empirical evidence of the efficacy of online peer support services specifically for depression, future research is required to substantiate the anecdotal evidence of these services. Obtaining a greater understanding of such services will facilitate the development of more effective and meaningful services to assist those living with depression.
authors.affiliation: Richmond VIC, Australia. belinda.melling@gmail.com
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Melling
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Houguet-Pincham
mesh_terms: D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000639:trends; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010379:Peer Group; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000639:trends; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome