title: Cyberbullying, help-seeking and mental health in young Australians: implications for public health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between young Australians' cyberbullying experiences, their help-seeking practices and associated mental well-being and social connectedness, with a view to informing national health and well-being agendas.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was administered to young people aged 12-18 years (n = 2,338), recruited across Australia in year 2 of a larger 4-year study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youth with no experience of cyberbullying had better well-being profiles and mental health overall. Conversely, cyberbully victims, had poorer well-being and mental health and tended not to engage with online support services, in spite of being more likely to be online after 11 pm. Parents and peers were identified as key sources of help for most young people when dealing with problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyberbullying is a public health issue particularly for vulnerable youth whose mental health and well-being is impacted more than those not involved. As youth are spending increasing time in the 24/7 online environment, there is a need to develop initiatives that engage young people and encourage help-seeking online, whilst concomitantly building capacity of parents and peers to support their well-being.
authors.affiliation: School of Education, University of South Australia, Magill Campus, Magill, Adelaide, SA, Australia, Barbara.spears@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: Carmel M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Taddeo
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stretton
authors.forename: Larisa T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Karklins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011634:Public Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological