Youth Mental Health Services Research Articles

The implementation of a zero-suicide framework in a child and youth mental health service in Australia: processes and learnings.

Suicide in children is a significant and growing problem. The "zero suicide" framework (ZSF) is one approach to suicide prevention used in health services for adults and children. This paper reports on the introduction of the first suicide prevention pathway (SPP) based on ZSF at a Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) in Australia. It begins by describing the adaptations made to elements of the SPP originally designed for adults to meet the needs of children. Lessons learned in applying the SPP in the service are then discussed. The aim is to inform and improve practice in the use of zero suicide approaches in child and youth mental health settings in Australia and worldwide.

Serious suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and mental health service use among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic

Using the 2021 U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health youth sample (N = 10,702, ages 12–17), we examined the prevalence and corelates of serious suicidal thoughts (SST) and of suicide plans and mental health service use among those with SST during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of all youth, 12.8 % reported SST and 16.7 % were unsure or refused to answer the SST question. The latter youth were more similar to those with than without SST in mental health status. Of youth with SST, 43.1 % made suicide plans and 56.6 % used any mental health services. Multivariable analysis showed that clinical factors (major depressive disorder, substance use disorder, self-perceived negative mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic), female sex, and non-metropolitan residence were associated with higher likelihood of SST. Positive home and school experiences were associated with a lower likelihood of SST and suicide plans, but higher likelihood of any mental health service use among those with SST. Black and Hispanic youth and youth in small metropolitan areas were significantly less likely to have used any mental health services. Our findings have important implications for improving access to mental health services for youth with SST, especially minoritized youth and those in non-metropolitan areas.

Delivering a sleep intervention across a youth mental health service using non-expert practitioners: A service evaluation.

Poor sleep is highly prevalent in young people and increases risk of mental health difficulties, yet access to sleep interventions remains limited. This paper evaluates the use of a sleep intervention delivered by non-expert practitioners in a secondary care youth mental health service. Assistant psychologists were trained to deliver a six-session 1:1 cognitive-behavioural sleep intervention adapted for use with young people with mental health difficulties. A within-subject design assessed clinical outcomes relating to sleep (Insomnia Severity Index), psychological distress and personal goals (Goal Based Outcome Measures) at four time points. High referral, intervention take-up (82.82%) and completion (70%) rates were reported, together with high baseline levels of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index mean 20.47, SD 3.68) and poor sleep efficiency (56.36%, SD 17.23). Fifty-six young people (average age 19.2 years, SD 3.25) were included in the outcome analysis. Statistically and clinically significant improvements were seen across all outcome measures, with 68% no longer meeting clinical threshold (ISI ≥15) for insomnia at endpoint. This study demonstrates exceptionally high levels of clinical need and engagement with a sleep intervention adapted specifically for young people with mental health difficulties. Whilst limited by the uncontrolled design, large improvements in insomnia and psychological distress support its effectiveness and utility in clinical settings. More robust implementation and evaluation is warranted in broader youth mental health services to promote earlier access.

Coproduction of accessible digital mental health supports in partnership with young people from marginalised backgrounds: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionDespite the evidence supporting the value of digital supports for enhancing youth mental health services, there is a lack of guidance on how best to engage with young people in...

Initiating Mental Health Services for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System in Indonesia: Lessons from the US Systems of Care

The children’s mental health service has become an inseparable part of the juvenile justice system in developed countries. The United States has successfully reformed the children’s mental health system by utilizing the systems of care framework, embracing its principles and values in the juvenile’s mental health treatments. In contrary, Indonesia as a developing country is still struggling with finding the directions and determining the mental health services framework to design mental health programs, policies, treatments, and services. The juvenile justice system in this country even has no concept of the importance of providing the mental health services for the juveniles. Therefore, this paper aims to examine and to explain the possible efforts that can be implemented in Indonesia by learning from the systems of care practice in the US related to the juvenile mental health services. [Pelayanan kesehatan mental anak menjadi bagian yang tak terpisahkan dalam sistem peradilan bagi remaja di negara maju. Amerika Serikat telah berhasil mereformasi sistem kesehatan mental anak dengan memanfaatkan kerangka berpikir sistem perawatan (systems of care), menganut prinsip-prinsip dan nilai-nilai yang terkanding di dalamnya dalam perawatan kesehatan mental remaja. Sebaliknya, Indonesia sebagai negara berkembang masih berjuang untuk menemukan arah serta menentukan kerangka berpikir pelayanan kesehatan mental untuk digunakan dalam menyusun program, kebijakan, perawatan, dan pelayanan kesehatan mental. Sistem peradilan bagi remaja di negara ini bahkan tidak menyebutkan konsep tentang pentingnya menyediakan pelayanan kesehatan mental bagi remaja. Oleh karena itu, makalah ini bertujuan untuk membahas dan menjelaskan upaya yang memungkinkan untuk diterapkan di Indonesia dengan belajar dari praktek sistem perawatan di Amerika Serikat terkait dengan layanan kesehatan mental remaja.]

Dimensions of caregiver strain may partially mediate the relationship between youth symptomology and counseling utilization among Latinxs.

Whether Latinx families use youth mental health services (MHS) depends on complex influences of barriers and facilitators within and outside of the home. This research sought to shed light on caregiver strain as part of the equation focused on parental identification and responses to youth mental health needs. We examined multiple dimensions of caregiver strain as potential mediators between youth mental health symptom severity and psychological counseling utilization. The present sample consisted of 598 Latinx caregivers to youths ages 6-18 who provided information on youth internalizing and externalizing problems, caregiver strain, and youth psychological counseling service utilization within the last year. Our findings suggest that youth symptom severity (internalizing and externalizing problems) was generally positively associated with dimensions of caregiver strain. Youth symptom severity through objective and subjective internalized strain pathways were associated with greater odds of youth MHS utilization. In contrast, youth symptom severity through subjective externalized strain reduced the odds that Latinx caregivers would report utilizing youth MHS. These models only partially mediated the relationship between youth problems and service use. Findings suggest that Latinx caregivers may navigate conflicting sources of strain related to their child's mental health problem severity in ways that may differentially impact the odds that they access youth MHS. Along with addressing structural and systemic barriers to care, utilization of psychological counseling services may also be improved through interventions that help Latinx caregivers view youth services as avenues for addressing caregiver strain and providing psychoeducation that frames externalized strain within a mental health lens.

A supported education programme implemented in youth mental health services: Outcomes and lessons from the first year of COVID-disrupted delivery.

Educational attainment is consistently highly valued by young people with mental ill health, yet maintenance and completion of education is a challenge. This paper reports on the implementation of a supported education programme for youth mental health. Between 10 October 2019 and 10 October 2020, a supported education programme was delivered within primary and tertiary youth mental health services. A description of the programme, context, and adjustments required due to COVID-19 is presented, and the educational outcomes of young people referred to the programme were explored. Two case studies are also presented. The programme received 71 referrals over this period, of which 70.4% had not yet completed secondary school and 68% were experiencing multiple mental health conditions. Overall outcomes were positive, with 47.5% of the 40 young people who chose to engage with the programme maintaining or re-engaging with education. However, the remainder of those who engaged withdrew from the programme, often reporting challenges due to COVID-19 such as social isolation or increased uncertainty. Additionally, a number of young people declined or disengaged from the programme to focus on employment. This report of the experience of integrating a supported employment programme in Australian youth mental health services reinforces the need for such support, and provides preliminary evidence for its successful implementation as part of routine care. The disengagement in response to COVID-19 highlights the real-world challenges of the pandemic, while young people's voicing of employment goals indicates the need for combined educational and vocational support-to assist transition and progression between these goals.

Experiences From Treatment for Anxiety and Depression Among Youth in Foster Care: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACTYouth in foster care are at high risk of internalizing problems. However, research is scarce regarding their experiences of mental health treatment. This knowledge is important if mental health services are to meet their needs. Through qualitative interviews, we explored the experiences of youth in foster care (N = 9, aged 16–18 years) having been treated for anxiety and depression. Systematic text condensation was used to analyse the transcribed interviews. The youth reported different paths to accessing treatment. They conveyed the need for therapists to build trust and demonstrate genuine care by advocating for them. They valued learning strategies to manage their symptoms and reported that to adopt these strategies, introspection and psychoeducation were necessary. Finally, they emphasized the importance of the treatment setting (e.g., outdoors versus in a traditional office setting). Findings indicate that it was arbitrary as to who helped the youth access treatment. Moreover, for youth to feel they benefitted from the treatment, certain features of the youth–therapist relationship and treatment content proved central. The findings are relevant for clinicians and policymakers within child welfare and youth's mental health services.

Lessons Learned from the Implementation of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, an Integrated Youth Services Network: Perspectives from Network Leads.

Mental health and substance use services for youth in Canada continue to be fragmented. In response, Integrated Youth Services (IYS) has been proposed to address gaps in youth mental health services that can lead to improved youth outcomes. Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) was launched in 2017 as Ontario's IYS Network for youth ages 12-25, prioritizing continuous improvement through evaluation. At the end of the first three years of the YWHO initiative, an evaluation was carried out to identify the barriers and facilitators to the initial implementation of YWHO and service delivery modifications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic across ten sites. Reporting on these is the focus of this article. Key informant interviews were conducted in early 2021 with Network Leads from all ten initial YWHO sites. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze all interview data. Facilitators to the implementation of the YWHO model included diversified funding models, YWHO Provincial Office implementation supports, clear hub processes, robust community partnerships, organizational support and dedicated staff. Common barriers included certain challenges related to staffing and finances, implementation of the shared data collection platform, implementation of measurement-based care, partnerships, integrated service delivery, and branding and communications. Implementation of IYS is highly collaborative and quite complex. As interest in such models increase, so does the need for knowledge related to optimal implementation. Learnings have informed developments and improvements made to the YWHO model. Insights will also inform how stakeholders support youth in their communities in designing and implementing services that improve youth mental health and overall well-being.

Investing in School Mental Health: Strategies to Wisely Spend Federal and State Funding.

In the context of the current youth mental health crisis, it is prudent to reconsider how resources are allocated to facilitate the delivery of effective and comprehensive supports and services to children and adolescents. Schools are the main delivery sites for youth mental health services. Many districts have adopted comprehensive school mental health systems (CSMHS) to provide a multitiered approach comprising mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention to students via partnerships between school and community health and behavioral health providers. COVID-19 relief funding and other new federal and state investments in school mental health have led to expansions of school mental health programming in most states. An impending federal funding cliff necessitates an examination of how to wisely invest now to achieve the greatest positive future impact on youth mental health. To capitalize on opportunities to sustain effective school mental health and maximize return on investment, states may consider four strategies: leverage cross-sector partnerships to advance school mental health policies and funding, strengthen and expand Medicaid coverage of CSMHS, establish and enhance data systems, and create state technical assistance and professional development support for CSMHS implementation through local education agencies.

Designing youth mental health services to improve access: A qualitative study and framework analysis of youths’ perspectives in Singapore

IntroductionAlthough there is an increasing interest in making mental health services (MHS) accessible to youths, there is limited ground-up involvement of youths while designing MHS in Asian settings.ObjectivesThis qualitative study sought to understand what youths considered as important elements of youth centric MHS and how these could be designed to improve access by youths in Singapore.MethodsWe conducted seven focus group discussions, and four semi-structured interviews with 50 multiracial youths aged 15-35 years in Singapore - a high-income Southeast Asian country. Purposive sampling allowed adequate representation of age, gender, and race (mainly Chinese, Malay, and Indian) groups. Participants reflected on the features of an ideal MHS for youths and how these could improve youths’ attitude and access to services. Participants also shared their preferences and additional opinions for culturally tailored and age appropriate MHS. Framework analysis using the ‘Conceptual Framework of Access to Healthcare’ (Levesque et al. Int J Equity Health 2013, 12:18) was used to code transcripts and identify the key themes (Ritchie & Spencer. In Analyzing qualitative data, 1994).ResultsThe average age of the participants was 24 years. About one third of the participants had accessed MHS in the past. Three key themes were identified – making facilities ‘approachable’, ‘available and appropriate’ and ‘affordable’. (i) Making facilities approachable related to having non-stigmatizing, non-threatening and welcoming aesthetics, organizational culture, and personnel. The participants also recommended a range of professional services, digital tools, and online features to enhance the approachability of MHS designed for youths. (ii) Flexible operating hours, easy appointment management, accessible location, and easy availability to youths with unique needs (e.g., employed youths) or socio-cultural backgrounds were necessary for making facilities available and accessible to youths. (iii) While sharing challenges of family involvement in the help-seeking process, most of the participants, particularly those in the lower ages, talked about tailoring MHS to the ability of youths to pay for the services. Preferences such as having cheaper services for teenagers and initial contacts, offering more non-medical but trained professionals, and considering shorter in-person counselling sessions, followed by free online options were brought up by the participants.ConclusionsThe study provided insights into multiple aspects of MHS and how these could be designed to cater to the needs of youths in Singapore from their perspective. MHS that incorporate non-stigmatizing, flexible, non-threatening and affordable design approaches could improve help-seeking and early interventions in youths.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Easy access to youth mental health services in the Netherlands

AbstractMental health problems have increased following the pandemic and are associated with considerable health, economic and societal outcomes, particularly affecting youth. In co-creation with young people several European prevention and early intervention strategies to promote mental wellbeing of youth are currently being developed. The development and implementation of easy-access youth mental services across Europe will be presented and discussed. In addition pilot data of online, hybrid treatment platforms and self-management ecological momentary intervention apps will be presented. Ultimately the aim is: 1) to develop clinical guidelines, best practices, and policy recommendations to mitigate the youth mental health challenges and 2) improve (cost-) effectiveness of early intervention strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health, including enhancing mental health literacy, resilience and self-management, while 3) actively involving young people in the process of these innovative developments. To amplify the reach, campaigns designed in co-creation with young people, to increase awareness, literacy, wellbeing and help-seeking among young people, targeting schools, further-education colleges, universities and other specific settings will need to be developed, specifically paying attention to high-risk groups within this young population, including children of parents with mental disorders, migrants, young people growing up in poverty, those in/leaving care, and the LGBTQ+ community, with coordination across domains: schools, general practitioners, and specialized mental healthcare facilities.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Improving measurement-based care implementation in youth mental health through organizational leadership and climate: a mechanistic analysis within a randomized trial

BackgroundTheory and correlational research indicate organizational leadership and climate are important for successful implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in healthcare settings; however, experimental evidence is lacking. We addressed this gap using data from the WISDOM (Working to Implement and Sustain Digital Outcome Measures) hybrid type III effectiveness-implementation trial. Primary outcomes from WISDOM indicated the Leadership and Organizational Change for Implementation (LOCI) strategy improved fidelity to measurement-based care (MBC) in youth mental health services. In this study, we tested LOCI’s hypothesized mechanisms of change, namely: (1) LOCI will improve implementation and transformational leadership, which in turn will (2) mediate LOCI’s effect on implementation climate, which in turn will (3) mediate LOCI’s effect on MBC fidelity.MethodsTwenty-one outpatient mental health clinics serving youth were randomly assigned to LOCI plus MBC training and technical assistance or MBC training and technical assistance only. Clinicians rated their leaders’ implementation leadership, transformational leadership, and clinic implementation climate for MBC at five time points (baseline, 4-, 8-, 12-, and 18-months post-baseline). MBC fidelity was assessed using electronic metadata for youth outpatients who initiated treatment in the 12 months following MBC training. Hypotheses were tested using longitudinal mixed-effects models and multilevel mediation analyses.ResultsLOCI significantly improved implementation leadership and implementation climate from baseline to follow-up at 4-, 8-, 12-, and 18-month post-baseline (all ps < .01), producing large effects (range of ds = 0.76 to 1.34). LOCI’s effects on transformational leadership were small at 4 months (d = 0.31, p = .019) and nonsignificant thereafter (ps > .05). LOCI’s improvement of clinic implementation climate from baseline to 12 months was mediated by improvement in implementation leadership from baseline to 4 months (proportion mediated [pm] = 0.82, p = .004). Transformational leadership did not mediate LOCI’s effect on implementation climate (p = 0.136). Improvement in clinic implementation climate from baseline to 12 months mediated LOCI’s effect on MBC fidelity during the same period (pm = 0.71, p = .045).ConclusionsLOCI improved MBC fidelity in youth mental health services by improving clinic implementation climate, which was itself improved by increased implementation leadership. Fidelity to EBPs in healthcare settings can be improved by developing organizational leaders and strong implementation climates.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04096274. Registered September 18, 2019.

Abbreviated Dialectical Behavior Therapy Virtual Skills Group for Caregivers of Adolescents: An Exploratory Study of Service User and Clinical Outcomes.

Prior work emphasizes involving caregivers in youth mental health services. To support youth with emotion dysregulation, dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) includes a multi-family skills group, wherein adolescents and caregivers learn skills together. However, limited work has examined the impact of caregiver involvement within DBT-A. The current study examines outcomes of two caregiver-only DBT-A skills groups adapted for abbreviated telehealth delivery. We report on caregivers' (N = 11, 100% mothers, 55% Hispanic) service user outcomes (e.g. self-efficacy at skill usage, group cohesion, therapeutic alliance) and clinical outcomes (i.e. their own emotion functioning, criticism, responses to their adolescent's negative emotions). Results indicate caregiver-only groups were feasible and acceptable, and suggest preliminary efficacy, including improvements in caregiver emotion functioning, distress during interactions with their adolescents, and adolescent-reported criticism. Caregivers also reported reductions in unsupportive responses with their adolescents. Overall, while we caution interpretation due to a small sample size, findings support the preliminary feasibility and efficacy of modifying caregiver participation in DBT-A to be less time-consuming and administered via telehealth.

Soulspace: Integrated youth mental health care in Berlin, Germany-An introduction to the program and a description of its users.

A substantial gap between young people's need for mental health care services and their actual access to such services led worldwide organizations (e.g., the WHO) to recommend the implementation of early intervention programs and youth mental health services. Some countries around the world have established structures to meet this recommendation. In this paper, we describe soulspace as the first integrated youth mental health service for young people aged between 15 and 35 years in Berlin, Germany. We introduce soulspace as easily accessible mental health care for young people, and we characterize soulspace along the lines of the internationally established eight key principles of integrated youth mental health services (Killackey, et al., 2020, World Economic Forum). Soulspace is a cooperation between clinical outpatient units of psychiatric clinics for adolescents and young adults as well as a community-based counselling service. It provides initial contact, counselling, diagnostics, and treatment. Our analyses of the pathways to soulspace and the characteristics of the soulspace users suggest that the low threshold is a facilitator to help finding for young people in comparison to more conventional early intervention models. That is, having transferred the early intervention center in a youth-facing counselling service as was done in soulspace seems to have reduced the threshold to seek help for families and for young people in need for support. In summary, with soulspace, an easily accessible mental health care service was established that integrates counselling and specialized psychiatric treatment if needed.

Factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Caregiver strain questionnaire in Latinx families.

Caregiver strain or stress directly related to caring for a youth with emotional and/or behavioral problems may be an important and understudied cultural factor associated with mental health disparities among Latinx families. Caregiver strain is a highly relevant construct for research questions focused on the identification of youth's mental health needs, family-level impacts of youth mental health problems, and utilization of youth mental health services. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of research on measures of caregiver strain and the psychometric properties of existing measures in Latinx samples. This study examined the structural and construct validity of the English version of the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CGSQ) with a sample of United States-based Latinx caregivers of youths ages 6-18 (N = 598). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the original three-factor model of caregiver strain was evidenced in this sample. Internal consistency analyses and a poor factor loading led to the elimination of one item. The factor structure held after item removal. Significant associations between each dimension of caregiver strain with youth internalizing/externalizing symptom severity and utilization of youth mental health services provided evidence of construct validity (i.e., psychological counseling, telepsychology, parenting classes). Results provide important evidence of the psychometric properties of the English CGSQ in a Latinx sample and support its use in future research aimed at unpacking mental health disparities among Latinx youth and families. Researchers should translate and validate the CGSQ in Spanish to increase the utility of this measure for research with Latinx families.

The development of a novel sexual health promotion intervention for young people with mental ill-health: the PROSPEct project

BackgroundYoung people with mental ill-health experience higher rates of high-risk sexual behaviour, have poorer sexual health outcomes, and lower satisfaction with their sexual wellbeing compared to their peers. Ensuring good sexual health in this cohort is a public health concern, but best practice intervention in the area remains under-researched. This study aimed to co-design a novel intervention to address the sexual health needs of young people with mental ill-health to test its effectiveness in a future trial undertaken in youth mental health services in Melbourne, Australia.MethodsWe followed the 2022 Medical Research Council (MRC) guidelines for developing and evaluating complex interventions. This involved synthesising evidence from the ‘top down’ (published evidence) and ‘bottom up’ (stakeholder views). We combined systematic review findings with data elicited from qualitative interviews and focus groups with young people, carers, and clinicians and identified critical cultural issues to inform the development of our intervention.ResultsExisting evidence in the field of sexual health in youth mental health was limited but suggested the need to address sexual wellbeing as a concept broader than an absence of negative health outcomes. The Information-Motivation-Belief (IMB) model was chosen as the theoretical Framework on which to base the intervention. Interviews/focus groups were conducted with 29 stakeholders (18 clinicians, three carers, and eight young people). Synthesis of the evidence gathered resulted in the co-design of a novel intervention consisting of an initial consultation and four 60-90-minute sessions delivered individually by a young ‘sex-positive’ clinician with additional training in sexual health. Barriers and supports to intervention success were also identified.ConclusionsUsing the MRC Framework has guided the co-design of a potentially promising intervention that addresses the sexual health needs of young people with mental ill-health. The next step is to test the intervention in a one-arm feasibility trial.

Can ICD-10 Z codes be used as proxy measures for ACE categories? – a proof of concept

ABSTRACT Objective The landmark study by Felitti showed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influence future health outcomes. This paper looks at the routine data collected in a Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) related to contextual factors in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 Z codes) and seeks to identify proxies for the ten original ACEs categories. In the absence of routinely collected ACE categories, these ICD-10 Z codes which could potentially act as ACE proxies would be helpful for clinical understanding and service delivery. Method ICD-10 Z codes collected routinely from 2108 individuals were analysed to identify Z codes which might serve as proxies for the ACE categories. To understand whether these Z codes were used appropriately during service delivery to indicate ACE categories, randomly selected files of patients having at least one of the above Z codes in their list of diagnoses were reviewed. Subsequently, the associations between several Z codes (serving as ACE proxies), demographic factors, and clinical outcome measures were explored. Results Significant differences were observed in terms of the mean ACE score of patients when sex, Indigenous status and certain diagnostic groups were considered. Similarly, when patient groups having exposure to different numbers of ACEs were compared, significant differences were observed in outcome scores (HoNOSCA and CGAS). Conclusion There is evidence that certain Z codes, can act as ACE proxies. This suggests a possible utility of this method in studying other associations and possibly helping to tailor future therapeutic interventions.

Getting into a good headspace: a study protocol of a pragmatic trial for an eating disorder prevention program in an Australian youth mental health service

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious, deadly disorders that emerge in adolescence and early adulthood. Further, reported incidences of EDs are increasing worldwide. As such, accessible, affordable, and effective early intervention and prevention efforts are critical. The Body Project is a well-established ED prevention program with demonstrated success at reducing ED symptom severity and the risk of onset of EDs in young females. However, it has not yet been formally evaluated in an Australian population, nor have the benefits of the treatment for young people of all genders been thoroughly investigated. This protocol paper outlines the design for a study which aims to investigate the outcomes and feasibility of the Body Project as a brief ED prevention program within an Australian youth mental health service: headspace Camperdown. This pragmatic trial will compare outcomes between a Body Project treatment group and a Treatment-as-usual control group. Primary outcomes include body image concerns, ED symptomatology and general psychological distress, measured pre- and post-treatment, and at one-month follow-up. All young people attending headspace Camperdown for care are eligible for participation in the trial. The Body Project program is comprised of four group-based 1.5 h sessions run over 4 consecutive weeks. Overall, a trial of the Body Project as an ED prevention program is warranted to investigate the outcomes of the intervention in this sample and will provide valuable information about the feasibility for widespread implementation of the treatment as part of a stepped-care approach to intervention for EDs at youth mental health service locations across Australia. ANZCTR Trial Registration Number: ACTRN12623000695606 (registered 29 June 2023).

Young people’s experiences of being involved in quality improvement of youth mental health services

BackgroundThere is a worldwide concern regarding young people’s mental health and the complexities of designing mental health services to meet these challenges. By integrating user knowledge in the design of mental health services, the services will be better suited to meet the distinctive requirements of youth, as well as uphold their entitlement to participate and influence. This study delves into the viewpoints of young people with experience from mental health services, exploring their perceived advantages and challenges related to their involvement in the enhancement of mental health services’ quality.MethodsA qualitative study with in-depth interviews and thematic analysis were conducted. Ten young, experienced users participated in the study.ResultsYouth user involvement in quality improvement of mental health services yielded notable benefits experienced as fostering personal recovery. Simultaneously, this involvement entailed challenging responsibilities. The participants experienced challenges associated with navigating their memories and expressing concern for their peers. The success of user involvement was closely associated with open-minded cooperative healthcare professionals, facilitation within the services, and provision of support for the young participants.ConclusionsThis study elucidates perceived benefits and challenges related to user involvement at an organizational level. It identifies pivotal conditions to success and underscores the value of incorporating user experience in the improvement of services, not only to create services tailored to the needs of youth but also to instill a positive self-identity and empower those participating. Recognizing the value of experienced users in quality improvement of the services will promote development of youth-friendly services.