Users of Supportiv’s anonymous, live-moderated peer-to-peer support chats see strong outcomes across the board. However, a new case study specifically on rural youth outcomes highlights the service’s utility for some of the nation’s hardest-to-reach and most in-need individuals.

The case study examines rural teen peer support users served through partnerships with United Healthcare and AscendRural, and contrasts with a similar urban teen population also served through UHC.

Download Now: Case Study: Rural Teen Mental Health and Supportiv

Rural teens saw comparably high engagement (6.5-8% utilization) and satisfaction to their urban peers, but their most common struggles varied significantly. Rural teens were 3x more likely to use Supportiv for struggles relating to loneliness and self-harm and suicidal ideation, and 2x more likely to share struggles involving identity and belonging.

Given the impact of these types of struggles on wellness and even physical health, Supportiv’s ease of access and anonymity can fundamentally change the outlook for youth wellbeing in rural areas. As one community partner in the AscendRural pilot put it: “It is that pre-crisis, pre-emergency, ‘I just need to talk to somebody’… Our youth need that.”

In the two featured rural deployments, teens saw average emotional improvements per session (including single-session users) ranging from:

  • 57-62% reduction in stress
  • 56-65% reduction in loneliness
  • 69-83% reduction in anger
  • 58-64% reduction in sadness
  • 184-250% increase in optimism

Download the case study, or drop us a line at info@supportiv.com to learn more about how Supportiv reaches teens from rural and urban backgrounds, across socioeconomic and cultural lines.