People with mental health problems can connect with and communicate with others through online support communities, while benefiting from online social support. Social support received online has a positive effect on stakeholders, as it affects their well-being, life satisfaction, reduces the impact of stress and is a crucial factor in overcoming mental illness. In my diploma thesis, I explore the emergence and characteristics of online social support in the forums found on Reddit, which brings together thousands of different communities. Through an online questionnaire, posted on five site forums (N = 118), I found that the most pronounced type of social support is general instrumental support, while instrumental support focusing on mental health, is the least. Satisfaction with support is of medium value, with users being more satisfied with the support they receive offline. Regardless of the amount of support received offline, users also search for it on online forum communities. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of social support online, more specifically in forums dedicated to the topic of mental health.
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