Youth Advisory Group Research Articles

Guidelines for the design and implementation of youth participation initiatives to safeguard mental health and wellbeing.

Worldwide, young people are increasingly engaged in participation and decision-making initiatives regarding issues that affect their lives through advisory groups, representative councils, advocacy and activism. Emerging evidence suggests that these initiatives may have an impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the youth involved. These guidelines, which are based on a scoping review of global evidence and led by a youth advisory group with lived experience of participation initiatives, summarise evidence-based recommendations for designing and implementing youth participation initiatives that protect the mental health and wellbeing of the young people involved. Development of these guidelines followed methods outlined by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument and the strength of the evidence behind each recommendation was aligned with the National Health and Medical Research Council Levels of Evidence and recommendation grading system. The guidelines include 20 recommendations and three good practice recommendations, addressing the following areas: prioritising clear and respectful communication; creating safe and flexible practices for young people; facilitating social and emotional support; empowering young people to participate in meaningful and impactful ways; and supporting young people to develop skills. These guidelines are expected to provide cross-sectoral, global groups with the confidence to design and implement youth participation initiatives, using the best-available evidence, in ways that safeguard the mental health of the participating young people.

Participatory research with youth with disabilities: Experiences from sub-Saharan Africa.

Disability inclusive youth research, involving youth with disabilities in the design, implementation and dissemination of study data, is still limited in Africa. To describe and reflect on the experiences of involving youth with disabilities in an exploratory research study, focused on disability-inclusive education and employment in 7 African countries. 12 youths with different impairments, aged 18 to 35, were employed as researchers in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda. Youth researchers contributed to the data collection and analysis of interviews with 210 youth with disabilities. 24 youth advisors with disabilities formed two youth advisory groups (YAG) of 12 advisors each in the regional hub countries Ghana and Uganda. The YAGs met 4 times during the project and contributed to the study design, data collection, data analysis and dissemination activities. In addition, 4 workshops were held with the Ugandan YAG to develop a participatory film. Together with the youth participants, we reflected on the experiences of involving youth with disabilities and conducting research with, by and on youth with disabilities. We highlighted ethics and safeguarding, recruitment and representation, exploring experiences and data quality, participatory dissemination, accessibility, capacity building and networking as key areas of consideration and benefit in this project. Participatory research with youth with disabilities is feasible, enriching, and key to inclusive research that informs education and employment policy and practices. Lessons learned from youth involvement in a disability inclusive research programme, focused on education and employment in 7 African countries.

'Is It Safe? Is it not?' A Youth-Led Photovoice Study of Youth Perspectives of COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence.

Youth have been uniquely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite high rates of COVID-19 infection, youth had one of the lowest vaccine uptake rates. Certain characteristics can affect vaccine uptake, such as mental health and substance use, but it is important to understand uptake for an effective response to pandemics. This study examined the perspectives of youth with mental health or substance use concerns on COVID-19 vaccine confidence, hesitancy and overall COVID-19 vaccine perspectives. Using photovoice, a community-based participatory research method, a sample of 27 youth aged 14-24 years participated in a series of photography workshops and focus groups. Participants submitted final photographs for discussion. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Four themes were generated: (1) Youth deciphered the vaccine discourse in a changing information landscape; (2) mixed perspectives of families, friends and loved ones influenced the vaccine journey; (3) complex societal influences affected views and decisions around the COVID-19 vaccine; and (4) youth navigated their vaccine journeys through first- and second-hand experiences. The four themes and subthemes highlight the evolution of youth's journeys with the COVID-19 vaccine over the course of the pandemic and into the late-pandemic period. Youth with mental health or substance use challenges navigated a complex environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The wide variety of factors influencing vaccine perspectives should be taken into account in public health messaging and future research on youth vaccine uptake. Youth-led and youth-engaged research can help solicit rich and meaningful perspectives of young people on important public health issues. This was a youth-led study. A youth research analyst conducted the study activities together with the support of a youth advisory group, an adult photographer with lived experience, and a scientific team.

189 Development of the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health in Northern Ireland (Y-PATH NI) Study

Abstract Purpose The Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) programme is an evidence-based physical literacy intervention, aimed at enhancing provision of physical education (PE). Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Y-PATH at increasing children’s physical activity levels and fundamental movement skills in Ireland. As Northern Ireland (NI) has different curricular provision, this study will consult with key stakeholders (pupils, teachers, parents) to test the acceptability of Y-PATH and adapt intervention content for delivery in NI post-primary schools. Methods The development phase involved reviewing the NI PE curriculum, a cross-sectional online survey with NI pupils (n = 1541, 11-14 years), focus groups (n = 17) with pupils aged 11-16 years, and interviews with parents and teachers (n = 15). In addition, 22 pupils participated in a Youth Advisory Group and were asked to provide feedback on intervention resources and proposed data collection measures for future feasibility testing. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were run for quantitative data. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, data were summarised, and themes were generated. Results Participants reported wanting to take part in more physical activity with their friends, during school time and to be given a choice of activities in their PE classes. Parents in NI indicated that they thought the Y-PATH programme would be beneficial for children and reported that they would be willing to be involved with the parent component of the intervention, while teachers noted some concerns in relation to the additional workload the intervention might entail. Feedback from the Youth Advisory Group suggested proposed outcome measures were acceptable, with detailed feedback provided on the design and functionality of Y-PATH resources, for example, the student journal. Conclusions The findings from this study suggest that the Y-PATH intervention would be suitable for schools in NI. The adapted Y-PATH NI programme will be tested in a feasibility trial and a process evaluation will determine the fidelity and acceptability of the Y-PATH intervention within the NI setting. These findings will help policymakers and researchers develop interventions that will be effective in increasing physical activity levels amongst youth. Support/Funding Source This study is funded by Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke.

Children’s voices for change: Co-researching with children and young people as family violence experts by experience

Researching with children and young people on topics that are considered to be ‘sensitive’, such as family violence, trauma and abuse, continues to be challenging. But there still is not enough evidence on children and young people’s own views and experiences of participating in ‘sensitive’ research. This article reflects on our experience, as a team of young lived experience advocates and a university researcher, of working together on a project to find out what children and young people in Victoria, Australia who have experienced family violence need to support them in their recovery. The project is about learning what is working well, what could be done better, and where the gaps are between what children and young people tell us they need from services, and what services are doing now. This article shares what we have learnt, including how we have set up a Youth Advisory Group and how we have developed an interactive online activity for children and young people to tell us about their experiences of family violence support services. We also discuss challenges we have faced, such as navigating power flows within the project team; embedding co-design into the project; and getting ethics approval to do this research. Finally, we share three guiding principles for collaborative research that puts children and young people’s voices, views and experiences at the centre. We hope that others can learn from our experience to promote the rights and participation of children and young people when working with them in research about family violence.

An Environmental Scan of Online Generalized Anxiety Resources for Canadian Youth

Background: A recent priority-setting exercise reported that youth are interested in understanding what the early signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety are, and when they should seek help. This environmental scan aimed to understand what information is currently available online for Canadian youth about the signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, what resources are available for self-assessment, and what are youth’s behaviors, experiences, and information needs around seeking help. Method: We conducted an environmental scan of Internet resources and academic literature in August 2020. Information Sources were categorized relating to the research concepts regarding signs and symptoms, self-assessments, information needs, and experiences. We complimented our environmental scan with youth consultations to understand how generalized anxiety resources are perceived by youth, and what if anything could be improved about the information they are receiving. Consultations were conducted over Zoom with three Canadian Youth Advisory Groups (2 local, 1 national) and took a semistructured focus group format. Results: Of the 12874 identified Information Sources inclusion criteria were met by 98. The majority of Information Sources on signs and symptoms ( n = 62) were webpage-based articles ( n = 53, 85%), and 38 (61%) specifically stated that they were targeting youth. Seventy-one percent ( n = 12) of the 17 self-assessment resources were provided by private organizations. The resources varied markedly in the post-assessment support provided to youth according to their source (i.e., private, academic, and governmental). The key considerations highlighted by youth across the consultations suggested resources needed to be; youth friendly; align with a credible institute (e.g., University and Health Institution); and provide tangible action items post-online assessment. Conclusions: Awareness of the information and resources available to youth, coupled with an understanding of their help-seeking behaviors and information needs regarding generalized anxiety can help support the development and dissemination of appropriate knowledge translation tools targeting youth.

The Power of Engaging Young People in Research

Youth advisory groups (YAGs) are super teams of young people who help scientists understand what is important to people their age. In our study, we wanted to find out how being involved in a YAG benefits young people and improves scientific research. We found that when young people joined a YAG for 1 year, they gained leadership and problem-solving skills. They told us that being in a YAG made them feel their voices were heard and included. They got to share their ideas, influence decision making, and make a difference in scientific research. But it was not always easy. We learned that YAGs face challenges, like not having enough time and difficulty meeting face-to-face. Yet, with some flexibility and supportive scientists, YAGs can succeed. We learned that a small group of thoughtful and committed young people can make a big difference and help make health research better.

THRIVING IN MOTION – YOUTH MOVES: MOVEMENT FOR TRANS AND GENDER DIVERSE YOUNG FOLK

CASE SETTING Gender diverse young people have lower rates of exercise, and higher rates of mental and physical health challenges, perpetuated by a lack of trans-friendly physical activity providers and environments. Our collaborative project aimed to create and support community-based exercise opportunities for trans and gender diverse young people (15-25yrs) to increase participation and improve their physical and mental health outcomes. Alongside feasibility data from 18 months delivery, two case studies will be presented (23 yrs non-binary individual, presenting with disordered eating and exercise, neurodivergence and mental illness; 18yrs transfeminine presenting with neurodivergence and participation barriers). APPROACH AND TREATMENT Through targeted community collaboration with young people and multidisciplinary support services, a supportive and inclusive structured exercise program was created. Specifically, we delivered and evaluated the feasibility of the exercise program for gender diverse young people; and educated the wider exercise and health community on inclusive exercise practices. RESULTS Forty-six gender diverse young people participated across the delivery of 11 x 8-10 week programs in 5 Perth metro locations, totalling 4518 exercise therapy hours. On average 100% of participants reported a score higher than 3/5 for program enjoyment, 79% of participants reported a score higher than 3/5 for motivation to return. Participants on average increased weekly physical activity participation by 50% since commencing the program, and 100% of participants would recommend the program to other trans peers. REFLECTIONS/LEARNINGS In WA, the absence of exercise opportunities for gender diverse young people prompted our tailored program. We prioritized inclusivity, safety, and participant-specific needs. Our proactive approach included health screenings, upskilling staff, and encouraging a supportive environment. Listening to participant expectations, involving a Youth Advisory Group, and engaging a Youth Engagement Officer proved vital for program success. Our reflections incorporate the significance of tailored, inclusive programs and community involvement in fostering active, safe spaces.

Price, social life and proximity influence food choices: Engaging young people as co-researcher collaborators to better understand their surrounding school food environments

Food environments around secondary schools are a strong influence on adolescents’ food purchasing habits1. We conducted a repeat cross-sectional study using Google Street View to examine school food environments in regional and metropolitan NSW, Australia over 17-years. Findings showed that unhealthful food outlets such as fast-food franchises, consistently dominated school food environments over 2007-2023. Increasing levels of poor nutrition among youth has been raised as a concern2 by the Health Advisory Panel for Youth at the University of Sydney [HAPYUS] - an established group of 16 adolescents aged 13-18 years residing in NSW3. To gain further insight into the study findings and how it may impact adolescents’ health, it is critical to include voices of adolescents in this research. The aim of this sub-study was to engage with members of our youth advisory group and conduct a consultation exercise on these study findings, drawing upon their lived experiences of school food environments. In Aug-2023, we engaged four youth advisors from HAPYUS. Study authors provided an overview of the study and its findings to the youth advisors via a Zoom call. Youth advisors formulated a 500-word statement on their perspectives and lived experiences of food environments surrounding their high schools over the subsequent 4 weeks. Adolescents agreed that physical proximity to unhealthy food outlets around schools was a key contributor to unhealthy eating habits however also recognised social and economic factors which play a significant role in shaping poor diets. The following quotes from their combined statement reflect social and economic concerns: i) “[We] observed on a daily basis young people were opting to travel to the closest food court for fast food, or in some extreme cases, even order fast food via a meal delivery app, to be delivered to the school - as opposed to choosing the closest outlet” ii) “Overpriced foods in schools with some drinks costing 2x more than a heavily discounted KFC meal, no meaningful difference between foods sold at canteens and those sold at fast food outlets - heavily processed, packaged snacks, pre-made reheated foods” iii) “Most unhealthy food outlets choose a location that is not only close to schools but also close to major shopping centres and food courts… ideal for an after-school social catchup as it appears to accommodate the needs of a large group of people.” Consultation findings revealed the importance of social and economic factors that must be analysed in addition to adolescents’ physical proximity to food outlets around their schools. Youth advisors call for governments to take immediate action to implement policies that ensure schools have cheap and healthy foods at canteens to mitigate against the purchase of foods from nearby unhealthy food outlets.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

The article outlines the ways of engaging young people in the development of civil society in Ukraine. Socially and politically active young people are one of the necessary conditions for forming a democratic society and establishing sustainable and functioning civil society institutions. Therefore, in this paper, the scholars aim to identify the ways of youth interaction with public authorities in Ukraine and general levels of youth civic engagement, as well as to characterize the culture of citizenship as a factor in involving young people in civil society development. The research reveals the relevant issue regarding the prominent role of civil society in various spheres of activity of state authorities and local self-government bodies, a qualitatively new level of interaction between civil society, especially youth as an active part of it, and state and local self-government bodies in order to establish effective dialogue and partnership relations of state bodies authorities, local self-government bodies with civil society organizations.
 The research combined interdisciplinary approaches of several related scientific fields (political science, public administration and education), which allowed to set broader goals and find new ways for improving youth engagement in the development of civil society in Ukraine. The authors developed and conducted an expert survey on youth engagement in the development of civil society and identified possible ways to improve youth participation in public and political life. Authors interviewed 24 experts aged from 18 to 60 years from various fields who are interested in building a democratic state governed by the rule of law: leaders and members of public organizations, teachers of higher education institutions, scholars, deputies of regional and local councils, civil society activists and businessmen.
 It was determined that the effective participation of youth in decision-making processes consists in creating opportunities to involve youth in influencing, shaping, developing and promoting policy and development of services and programs. These opportunities are created by developing a range of formal and informal mechanisms for youth participation, from youth advisory groups to focus groups, from ongoing consultation work to supporting youth projects. As a result of the study, the authors developed a set of conclusions and recommendations addressed to educational institutions, public authorities, local governments and civil society organizations.

Autistic pupils' experiences in primary and post-primary schools: A scoping review and consultation with autistic pupils in Ireland.

Autistic pupils have the right to be heard in matters concerning their education and to be active agents in shaping their school experiences. Despite this, educational policies and research have rarely included the voices of autistic children, failing to identify what they consider to be beneficial and meaningful in their own education. This study aimed to (i) summarise existing literature exploring autistic pupils' experiences at school from their own perspectives and (ii) identify gaps for future research through a consultation with autistic pupils. A scoping review was conducted to identify studies exploring first-person accounts of autistic pupils' school experiences (primary and secondary; aged 4-18 years) published between 2005 and 2023. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify overarching thematic categories across the included studies. Review findings were discussed through a consultation with a Child and Youth Advisory Group (CYAG) comprised of autistic pupils in Ireland (N = 3), to seek feedback and inform a future research agenda. Thirty-six studies were included in the review and six themes were identified: Experiences of feeling misunderstood, of bullying and masking, of feeling excluded, of anxiety, of sensory needs in school, and of being overwhelmed during transitions. Consultation with the CYAG highlighted that these six themes were consistent with autistic pupils' experiences but that reports of positive experiences were missing in the literature. This study identified several gaps in the literature on the school experiences of autistic pupils, based on both the scoping review and consultation with the CYAG. While the CYAG validated the themes identified in existing literature, there is a need for greater diversity in the samples included and increased focus on the potential positive aspects of the school experience. Implications. These findings have important research implications. In particular, further studies are needed with autistic pupils at primary school level, including those who are minimally or non-speaking, as well as ensuring pupils with positive school experiences are also represented. Findings also highlight the need for continued collaboration with autistic pupils themselves in matters concerning their education.

A Protocol for a Rapid Realist Review of Literature Examining Co-Production in Youth Mental Health Services

An overview of internationally published literature on what works for co-production in youth mental health services is missing, despite a practice and policy context strongly recommending this approach. The proposed rapid realist review aims to develop a theory about how and why co-production methods in youth mental health services work (or do not work), for whom, in which contexts, and through what mechanisms. Relevant evidence will be synthesised to develop context–mechanism–outcome (CMO) configurations that can inform policy and practice. Stakeholders will be iteratively involved in the development of these theories (CMO configurations) by engaging an expert panel and youth advisory group. The review results will be reported according to the RAMESES guidelines and are intended to be published in an academic journal. Additionally, a plain English summary will be produced with the support of the youth advisory group.

Psychoeducation as an active ingredient for interventions for perinatal depression and anxiety in youth: a mixed-method systematic literature review and lived experience synthesis.

Psychoeducation is a common element in psychological interventions for youth depression and anxiety, but evidence about its use with youth perinatally is limited. This review aims to understand outcomes and mechanisms of psychoeducation for the indicated prevention and treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety in youth. For this review, we synthesised published quantitative and qualitative evidence. Seven databases (ASSIA, Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched for studies published before 10 August 2021. We also had consultations with a youth advisory group (N = 12). In total, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven quantitative studies examined multicomponent interventions that included psychoeducation, and one study evaluated psychoeducation as a standalone intervention for postnatal depression. Multicomponent interventions showed significant effects on postnatal depression in two out of six studies, as well as being effective at reducing prenatal anxiety in one study. Standalone psychoeducation for postnatal depression was also effective in one study. Evidence from 12 qualitative studies, corroborated by commentaries from the youth advisory group, suggested that psychoeducation could increase knowledge about symptoms, generate awareness of relevant services and enhance coping. Psychoeducation may be an important foundational ingredient of interventions for perinatal depression and, potentially, anxiety in adolescents and young adults through stimulating help-seeking and self-care.

Striking the right balance: co-designing the Health4Me healthy lifestyle digital health intervention with adolescents

BackgroundAdolescents are navigating a period of rapid growth and development within an era of digitalization. Mobile phone ownership among adolescents is nearly ubiquitous, and this provides an opportunity to harness text messaging to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce chronic disease risk factors. Inclusion of adolescents throughout the design process has been recognized as essential for engagement and future implementation of such interventions. This study aimed to co-design a bank of text messages to promote a healthy lifestyle which are useful, acceptable, and engaging for adolescents aged 12–18 years old.MethodsIterative, mixed-methods design with consumer partnership. Co-design occurred over three stages: text message development, text message review and final refinement and testing. The text message development included literature searches and consumer partnership with an established youth advisory group (n = 16). Participants who gave e-consent participated in text message review. Demographic characteristics were collected, and quantitative surveys were distributed to adolescents (n = up to 50) and health professionals (n = up to 30), who rated text message content for understanding, usefulness and appropriateness (total score out of 15). Final refinement was completed by the research team to edit or remove messages which had low scores and to assess readability and interactivity of the text messages.ResultsThe Heath Advisory Panel for Youth at the University of Sydney (HAPYUS) identified the top six lifestyle health issues for young people today in relation to chronic disease prevention, which became the key content areas for the text message bank and drafted new text messages. Following text message development, 218 messages were available for review. Adolescents (n = 18, mean age 16.3 [SD 1.4]) and healthcare professionals (n = 16) reviewed the text messages. On average, all reviewers found that the text messages were easy to understand (mean = 13.4/15) and useful (mean = 12.7/15). Based on scoring and open ended-feedback, 91 text messages were edited and 42 deleted. The final text message bank included 131 text messages. The overall program is suitable for a seventh-grade reading level, and interactive.ConclusionsThis study describes the process of effectively engaging adolescents to co-design a text message bank intervention, which are useful, acceptable and engaging for an adolescent audience. The effectiveness of the co-designed text message bank is currently being tested in the Health4Me RCT.

Evaluating the effect of a 12-month youth advisory group on adolescent’s leadership skills and perceptions related to chronic disease prevention research: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundYouth Advisory Groups (YAGs) represent a promising method to engage adolescents in research of relevance to them and their peers. However, YAGs are rarely implemented or evaluated in chronic disease prevention research. The aims of this study were firstly, to evaluate the effect of participation in a 12-month YAG on adolescents’ leadership skills and perceptions related to chronic disease prevention research and secondly, to evaluate the process of establishing and facilitating a 12-month YAG and identify barriers and enablers to establishment and facilitation.MethodsThis study was a 12-month pre-post study. Eligible participants were adolescents (13-18-years) and current members of an established YAG. Data collection involved online surveys and semi-structured interviews at baseline, six-months and 12-months follow-up. Participatory outcomes such as self-efficacy, leadership skills, and collective participation were derived from Youth Participatory Action Research Principles (YPAR), and the Lansdown-UNICEF conceptual framework for measuring outcomes of adolescent participation. Process evaluation data were captured via meeting minutes, Slack metrics and researcher logs. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data was thematically analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach.ResultsThirteen (13/16) YAG youth advisors consented to participate in the evaluation study (mean age 16.0 years, SD 1.3; 62% (8/13) identified as female). Survey data assessing participatory outcomes found an increase in leadership and life skills scores over 12-months (+ 8.90 points). Semi-structured interview data collected over the 12-month term revealed three key themes namely: influence, empowerment, and contribution. Comparison of pre-post themes determined a positive trend at follow-ups, demonstrating improved participatory outcomes. Process indicators revealed that at 12-month follow-up the YAG was implemented as planned. Semi-structured interview data determined barriers to YAG facilitation included time and limited face-to-face components, while enablers to YAG facilitation included flexibility, accessible delivery methods, and a supportive adult facilitator.ConclusionThis study found that a YAG fostered positive participatory outcomes and unique opportunities for youth participants. A successful YAG based on YPAR principles requires researchers to ensure YAG establishment and facilitation is an iterative process. Taking into consideration important barriers and enablers to YAG facilitation ensures adolescent engagement in a YAG is both meaningful and impactful.

Mental health and wellbeing outcomes of youth participation: A scoping review protocol.

There is growing recognition that young people should be given opportunities to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, such as advisory groups, representative councils, advocacy or activism. Positive youth development theory and sociopolitical development theory propose pathways through which youth participation can influence mental health and wellbeing outcomes. However, there is limited empirical research synthesising the impact of participation on youth mental health and/or wellbeing, or the characteristics of activities that are associated with better or worse mental health and/or wellbeing outcomes. This scoping review seeks to address this gap by investigating the scope and nature of evidence detailing how youth participation initiatives can influence mental health and/or wellbeing outcomes for participants. To be eligible, literature must describe youth (aged 15-24) in participation activities and the impact of this engagement on participant mental health and/or wellbeing outcomes. A systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature will be conducted using Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, Medline and grey literature databases. The scoping review will apply established methodology by Arksey and O'Malley, Levac and colleagues and the Joanna Briggs Institute. Title, abstract, and full text screening will be completed by two reviewers, data will be extracted by one reviewer. Findings will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), including a qualitative summary of the characteristics of youth participation and their influence on youth mental health outcomes. Youth advisory group members will be invited to deliver governance on the project from the outset; participate in, and contribute to, all stages of the review process; reflect on their own experiences of participation; and co-author the resulting publication. This scoping review will provide essential knowledge on how participation activities can be better designed to maximise beneficial psychosocial outcomes for involved youth.

Establishing priorities in child health: Giving parents and youth a voice.

Parents and youth across Alberta were engaged to identify specific research questions that are a priority to them. Two lists, containing 27 topics were developed with local parent and youth advisory groups, and sent to participants via online questionnaires. Topics were rated from one (least important) to five (most important) and ranked in order of priority. Initial questionnaires were completed by 263 (46%) parents and 308 (54%) youth. Parents rated five topics (behaviour, learning, and developmental disorders; mental health; food, environment and lifestyle; quality of health care; and vaccines) and youth rated four topics (brain and nerve health; mental health; quality of health care; and vaccines) as a high priority. Research questions stemming from 4 parent (12 [5%]) and 6 youth (21 [7%]) focus group discussions were then ranked in a second questionnaire, completed by 43 (43%) parents and 56 (56%) youth. Parents' highest ranked research question was 'What is the effect of screen time on cognition and neurodevelopment for children and adolescents?', while the highest ranked question from youth was 'What are the early signs of anxiety and depression and when should an individual seek help?'. These topics highlight areas that are important to parents and youth where funding, research, and knowledge mobilization efforts should be directed.

'Including us, talking to us and creating a safe environment'-Youth patient andpublic involvement and the Walking In ScHools (WISH) Study: Lessons learned.

Young people have the right to be informed and consulted about decisions affecting their lives. Patient and public involvement (PPI) ensures that research is carried out 'with' or 'by' young people rather than 'to', 'about' or 'for' them. The aim of this paper is to outline how youth PPI can be embedded within a physical activity intervention, reflect on the impact of PPIand provide recommendations for future PPI in a similar context. A Youth Advisory Group (YAG) was set up within the Walking In ScHools (WISH) Study to involve adolescent girls in the delivery, implementation and dissemination of a physical activity intervention targeted at adolescents. Schools invited pupils aged 12-14 years and 15-18 years to YAG meetings (n3, from 2019 to 2023). Participative methods were used to inform recruitment strategies and data collection methods for the WISH Study. Across the threeYAG meetings, n51 pupils from n8 schools were involved. Pupils enjoyed the YAG meetings, felt that their feedback was valued and considered the meetings a good way to get young people involved in research. The YAG advised on specific issues and although measuring impact was not the primary aim of the YAG meetings, over the course of the study there were many examples of the impact of PPI. Recruitment targets for the WISH Study were exceeded, the attrition rate was low and pupils were engaged in data collection. Youth PPI is a developing field and there are few physical activity studies that report the PPI work undertaken. Within the WISH Study, three YAG meetings were held successfully, and the views of adolescent girls were central to the development of the study. Considering the specific issues that the YAG advised on (study recruitment, attritionand data collection), there was evidence of a positive impact of PPI. Pupils from post-primary schools interested/participating in the WISH Study were invited to attend YAG meetings. YAG meetings were set up to consult adolescent girls on the delivery, implementationand dissemination of the WISH intervention.

Youth participation processes in longitudinal out of home care research

AbstractWhile there is growing recognition of the importance of meaningful youth participation in activities and decisions which impact their lives, facilitating such engagement within different forums requires varied approaches. A programme of youth research at one Western Australian university has sought to embed pathways for ongoing youth participation in longitudinal research. In particular, we discuss Navigating Through Life, a large‐scale WA research project comprising three sub‐studies exploring young people's transitions from out of home care (OOHC) to independence. We established a youth advisory group to run alongside the project and employed peer researchers to conduct research tasks. In this paper, we seek to explicate the development and various iterations of youth participation in the project. We utilise our reflections, interview data and documentation from YAG meetings and feedback sessions with the peer researchers to illustrate the processes of transformation and flexibility required to develop and maintain youth participation in various ways across the project's life. Drawing on our findings and current literature, we highlight how funding bodies and researchers must consider the additional needs, unique and changeable life circumstances of young people to best facilitate their involvement in research.

Interventions to reduce wait times for adolescents seeking mental health services: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThe demand for adolescent mental health services has increased significantly in recent years, leading to excessive wait times for adolescents seeking mental health services and poor mental health outcomes. Timely...