City Research Online

Abstract

Amid growing concerns about adolescent mental health globally, the need to improve mental health services specifically tailored to the developmental stages and preferences of young people has become increasingly evident. Adolescents face unique psychological challenges that necessitate more inclusive and participatory research approaches to understand and address their specific needs more effectively. This qualitative exploratory study employed a participant-led, elicitation methodology to delve deeply into adolescents’ experiences with mental health services in the UK, aiming to empower this vulnerable demographic to share their perspectives meaningfully and contribute to the broader literature on adolescent experiences. Nine adolescents (5 female, 4 male) from three geographic locations engaged in semi-structured elicitation interviews, where they shared personal photographs, objects and sounds to help them express what was important to them. Reflexive Thematic Analysis of the interviews yielded six main themes: Feeling Invisible, The Fight, Open Wounds, Stuck in a Maze, Childhood and Help, together with thirteen sub-themes. These themes illuminate the profound struggles young people have to go through in their quest for mental health support and highlight how frequently they feel overlooked and misunderstood by adults in caregiving roles across all services. The findings emphasise the need for mental health service providers to start actively encouraging and listening to the views of young service users. And to act on that information by designing services that are not only accessible but also responsive to the individual and developmental needs of adolescents. The practical implications for Counselling Psychologists and other healthcare professionals are discussed, and suggestions for future research are set out. This study advocates for research methodologies that integrate the voices of young people in ways that are meaningful to them.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology

Export

Downloads