Improving child and youth mental health: Stakeholder perspectives from a cross-sectional survey to inform research priorities

Abstract

Mental disorders in children and young people represent a significant burden of disease, requiring enhanced efforts in terms of both prevention and treatment. Directing scarce research resources to address important gaps and answer meaningful questions is critical and engaging stakeholders including young people, their family members, clinicians, academic researchers etc. is key to this process. We have embarked on a large programme of work to establish and prioritise research questions for the Cochrane Common Mental Disorders-Children and Young People Satellite. In 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 295 participants. More than a third of respondents were young people, nearly one-half reported lived experience of mental health difficulties and more than 40% were involved in caregiving responsbilities for people experiencing mental health difficulties. Results from the ranking exercise showed respondents believe anxiety, depression and suicide are the most important issues to be addressed. Multiple factors that respondents believe can make young people vulnerable to mental disorders were described and results highlighted the need for service reforms, and strengthening parenting and educational responses as important ways to address mental disorders. We believe that identifying relevant research questions for evidence synthesis is essential to ensure that research funding is used for maximum benefit for this age group.