Mental health beyond the school gate: young people's perspectives of mental health support online, and in home, school and community contexts

Abstract

Children and young people’s (CYP) mental health (MH) is of growing concern, particularly as evidence suggests prevalence rates are increasing. Although there is a drive by the government to improve and develop effective support systems, research suggests many CYP have not accessed effective help. Using technology to deliver mental health interventions offers a potential way to increase access to support. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current evidence for the effectiveness of technology based interventions for CYP aged 16-25 with depression and anxiety. A systematic search of three databases identified 12 studies exploring a range of online technology based interventions. The findings identified positive outcomes for the use of iCBT in reducing anxiety and depression severity. It also outlined some promising evidence suggesting potential benefits of further exploring the use of online, solution-focused approaches. However, further work is needed to identify the key elements to effective online interventions and understand more about young people's experiences and opinions when using them.

The empirical paper sought to address this, through developing a greater understanding of what CYP identify as the most essential types of MH support, where they would like to access this support, and the key competencies they value in those delivering that support. An expert panel of CYP aged 16-25 who had previously experienced a MH difficulty participated in two rounds of a Delphi study. For each round, participants were asked to rate the importance of a series items. Items that were rated as either essential, or very desirable, by at least 75% of the panel were included in a final framework of recommendations. To gain feedback on the feasibility and utility of the framework, interviews with adult stakeholders were carried out. The current research found that trust and confidentiality were essential elements to service provision. Furthermore, it appears that CYP want practitioners to recognise their strengths and involve them in decision making. Implications of the research include a need for further awareness of mental health and larger scale, participatory research with CYP to expand upon the findings of the current study.

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