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Mensa-Kwao A, Sub Cuc I, Concepcion T, Kemp CG, Hughsam M, Sinha M, Collins PY. A mixed methods analysis of youth mental health intervention feasibility and acceptability in a North American city: Perspectives from Seattle, Washington. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0288214. [PMID: 38483880 PMCID: PMC10939237 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
In March 2021, the Governor of Washington declared a youth mental health crisis. State data revealed high rates of youth suicide and inadequate access to services. This study aims to ascertain the kinds of support across the mental health care continuum recommended by young people and key stakeholders who could assist with implementation in Seattle. We interviewed 15 key informants to identify the contextual, structural, and individual-level factors that increase the risk of poor mental health and deter access to care among youth. We complimented these data with a 25-item survey of 117 participants in King County to assess the feasibility and acceptability of interventions for youth mental health. We conducted a deductive thematic qualitative analysis of the interviews and performed descriptive analyses of the quantitative data, using t-tests and χ2 tests to summarize and compare participant characteristics stratified by age group. Qualitative informants attributed challenges to youth mental health to social isolation and relational problems. Example interventions included creating environments that increase belonging and implementation of culturally congruent mental health services. Quantitative study participants rated all evidence-based mental health interventions presented as highly acceptable. However, youth preferred interventions promoting social connectedness, peer support, and holistic approaches to care, while non-youth preferred interventions focused on suicide, and substance abuse prevention. Key informants and survey participants identified schools as the most important setting for mental health interventions. There were no significant differences among quantitative outcomes. Our findings highlight the need for interventions that reduce isolation and increase social connectedness to support youth mental health. As the city designs youth responsive interventions, schools and digital platforms should be prioritized. Engaging multiple stakeholders, particularly young people, tackling cultural stigma surrounding mental health, and improving access to safe community spaces are important considerations for youth mental health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustina Mensa-Kwao
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ingrid Sub Cuc
- Department of Native American Studies, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Tessa Concepcion
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Christopher G. Kemp
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | | | - Pamela Y. Collins
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Collins PY, Sinha M, Concepcion T, Patton G, Way T, McCay L, Mensa-Kwao A, Herrman H, de Leeuw E, Anand N, Atwoli L, Bardikoff N, Booysen C, Bustamante I, Chen Y, Davis K, Dua T, Foote N, Hughsam M, Juma D, Khanal S, Kumar M, Lefkowitz B, McDermott P, Moitra M, Ochieng Y, Omigbodun O, Queen E, Unützer J, Uribe-Restrepo JM, Wolpert M, Zeitz L. Making cities mental health friendly for adolescents and young adults. Nature 2024; 627:137-148. [PMID: 38383777 PMCID: PMC10917657 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-07005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Urban life shapes the mental health of city dwellers, and although cities provide access to health, education and economic gain, urban environments are often detrimental to mental health1,2. Increasing urbanization over the next three decades will be accompanied by a growing population of children and adolescents living in cities3. Shaping the aspects of urban life that influence youth mental health could have an enormous impact on adolescent well-being and adult trajectories4. We invited a multidisciplinary, global group of researchers, practitioners, advocates and young people to complete sequential surveys to identify and prioritize the characteristics of a mental health-friendly city for young people. Here we show a set of ranked characteristic statements, grouped by personal, interpersonal, community, organizational, policy and environmental domains of intervention. Life skills for personal development, valuing and accepting young people's ideas and choices, providing safe public space for social connection, employment and job security, centring youth input in urban planning and design, and addressing adverse social determinants were priorities by domain. We report the adversities that COVID-19 generated and link relevant actions to these data. Our findings highlight the need for intersectoral, multilevel intervention and for inclusive, equitable, participatory design of cities that support youth mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Y Collins
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | | | - Tessa Concepcion
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - George Patton
- Centre for Adolescent Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thaisa Way
- Dumbarton Oaks, Harvard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Layla McCay
- Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health, London, UK
| | - Augustina Mensa-Kwao
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Helen Herrman
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Evelyne de Leeuw
- Ecole de Sante Publique, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nalini Anand
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Yajun Chen
- Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Tarun Dua
- World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Damian Juma
- Healthy Brains Global Initiative, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Manasi Kumar
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bina Lefkowitz
- Sacramento County Board of Education, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Lefkowitz Consulting, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | | | - Modhurima Moitra
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Emily Queen
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jürgen Unützer
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Lian Zeitz
- Climate Mental Health Network, Annapolis, MD, USA
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Santana de Lima E, Preece C, Potter K, Goddard E, Edbrooke-Childs J, Hobbs T, Fonagy P. A community-based approach to identifying and prioritising young people's mental health needs in their local communities. RESEARCH INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 2023; 9:104. [PMID: 37996912 PMCID: PMC10666450 DOI: 10.1186/s40900-023-00510-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying locally relevant and agreed-upon priorities for improving young people's mental health, aligned with social and environmental factors, is essential for benefiting target communities. This paper describes a participatory approach to engage young people and professionals in identifying such priorities, whilst considering the social determinants related to them. METHODS We utilised a community-based participatory approach to support young people and professionals in identifying, reviewing, refining, and prioritising, locally relevant opportunity areas that are crucial for understanding and addressing social determinants of young people's mental health. We adopted a flexible five-stage process, which enabled greater reflection and adaptation in response to young people's and professionals' feedback and reflections. RESULTS Over seven months, we engaged with young people and professionals in Northern Devon, (a rural area in southwest England), involving over 290 individuals to identify locally relevant priorities for supporting young people's mental health. Three priorities were identified for subsequent exploration using co-design approaches: (1) identity and belonging; (2) mental health awareness and literacy; and (3) diverse opportunities (for education, employment and leisure). The engagements suggested that designing initiatives and strategies in these areas could contribute to improvements in young people's mental health. CONCLUSION Young people in Northern Devon prioritised three themes for the next phase of the Kailo Programme-mental health literacy, access to diverse careers and employment opportunities, and identity and belonging within their communities. Rural communities face unique barriers associated with these issues, related to less diverse populations, lack of access to reliable and affordable transport and local industries, and seasonal working. The perceived neglect by authorities towards rural young people has resulted in a lack of activities and opportunities catering to their specific needs, compared to urban areas. Although the government has recognised the need to address these disparities, community members suggest that there is still more work to be done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ediane Santana de Lima
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Buckfastleigh, UK
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Bristol, UK
| | - Cristina Preece
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Buckfastleigh, UK
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Hereford, UK
| | - Katie Potter
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Buckfastleigh, UK
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Stoke Gabriel, UK
| | - Ellen Goddard
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Buckfastleigh, UK
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Bangor, UK
| | | | - Tim Hobbs
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Buckfastleigh, UK
- Dartington Service Design Lab, Totnes, UK
| | - Peter Fonagy
- University College London (UCL), London, UK
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London (UCL), London, UK
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, UK
- Child and Family Programme at the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, London, UK
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