Abstract
Adolescent suicide is a pressing problem in Chile that has not yet been sufficiently addressed, as suicide rates have stagnated in recent years. One possible explanation could be linked to the adult-centered paradigm that continues to prevail in relation to adolescent health initiatives. In light of this, programs that seek to promote youth mental health should consider incorporating adolescents in the design process using participatory methodologies, to ensure that these initiatives are well-suited for the population. In line with this recommendation, a group of seven adolescents, 13 to 20 years of age, were incorporated into a research team to actively guide the design, development, and validation of a technology-based intervention, known as Project Clan, which was piloted to reduce adolescent suicide in schools in Chile. This group was known as the “Group of Experts,” in acknowledgment of their role as experts by experience on adolescence. A qualitative case study was conducted to explore their lived experiences, through semistructured individual in-depth interviews with six members of the group. Results showed that the adolescents had a high level of interest in mental health and had experienced problems of their own or accompanied friends who were struggling, which motivated their participation in the study. They had a critical view of the previous interventions they had received through educational institutions and valued their role in the promotion of their peers' mental health through the Group of Experts. They also highlighted the importance of creating tools that complement their daily lives and provide an alternative to existing social networks, by respecting their anonymity, providing a secure place for divulgation and self-expression, and facilitating access to professional support. We conclude that programs that address issues that affect adolescents should incorporate adolescents in the decision-making and design processes to ensure the acceptability and effectivity of their interventions.
Highlights
A central pillar of health promotion, as defined by the World Health Organization’s Ottawa Charter of 1986, is the empowerment of individuals and communities to be actively involved in improving their own health, ensuring they have the power to shape their own well-being [1]
This case study focused on the adolescents who comprised the Group of Experts during the development of the Project Clan intervention, from 2017 to 2018, to prevent adolescent suicide and promote mental health and well-being in Santiago, Chile
The categories used to analyze the data coincided with the three initial thematic areas of the case study
Summary
A central pillar of health promotion, as defined by the World Health Organization’s Ottawa Charter of 1986, is the empowerment of individuals and communities to be actively involved in improving their own health, ensuring they have the power to shape their own well-being [1]. This participation can take multiple forms, from helping to set priorities or planning activities to guiding the implementation of strategies and interventions, in collaboration with policy makers, health professionals, and other stakeholders. These obstacles to seeking care are physical—due to the lack of services or financial or time-related factors—but can be psychological, in terms of the associated social stigma [12]
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