Life Challenges and Barriers to Help Seeking: Adolescents' and Young Adults' Voices of Mental Health.

Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101238455 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1660-4601 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 16604601 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Environ Res Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Basel : MDPI, c2004-

Mental Health* ; Mental Health Services*; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Schools ; Social Stigma ; Students ; Young Adult

Listening to the voices of adolescents and young adults regarding their lived experiences could be a way to identify important skills and abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that will enable youth to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. Hence, the aim with the current study is to explore the experiences and understandings of the life situation among adolescents and young adults of today, by making their voices heard in regards to mental health and help-seeking behaviour. A total of 6 group interviews were conducted with 22 adolescents and young adults (13 girls and 9 boys) ages 17-25 (M = 18.6 years). Data analysis was conducted using qualitative content analysis and resulted in two categories and five subcategories. The first category, Life challenges, included views on the sources of mental health, how to manage different types of relationships, and thoughts on accepted ways to express mental health problems. The second category, The need of present adults, highlighted important aspects for seeking help, such as an expressed need to be seen and heard by adults including parents, school staff, and other professionals as well as a need for adults' increased availability. The challenges to students' well-being and mental health are many, and there are no simple solutions. Based on the results in this study, life skills training should include elements to enhance the development of individual coping strategies, to be applied when life feels tough and when the body is experiencing stress reactions. Further, to minimize the risk of self-stigma and the internalization of negative stereotypes and self-blame, life skills training should include elements to increase knowledge of structural factors that have effects on the life situation as well as parents, school personnel, and other important adults.

Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2018;13(sup1):1564518. (PMID: 30663537)
Afr J Emerg Med. 2017 Sep;7(3):93-99. (PMID: 30456117)
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2012 Jul;46(7):641-50. (PMID: 22332150)
Psychiatr Serv. 2012 Oct;63(10):974-81. (PMID: 22855130)
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Feb;30(2):183-211. (PMID: 31965309)
J Affect Disord. 2017 Jan 01;207:163-166. (PMID: 27723539)
Psychiatry Res. 2020 Jun;288:112977. (PMID: 32302818)
Alcohol Res. 2014;36(1):91-100. (PMID: 26259003)
J Health Commun. 2013;18(1):41-57. (PMID: 23030518)
Psychiatry Res. 2020 Feb;284:112702. (PMID: 31839418)
Child Care Health Dev. 2003 Nov;29(6):545-50. (PMID: 14616912)
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2012 May;46(5):397-9. (PMID: 22535288)
Nurse Educ Today. 2004 Feb;24(2):105-12. (PMID: 14769454)
J Pediatr Nurs. 2003 Oct;18(5):321-31. (PMID: 14569580)
Annu Rev Psychol. 2007;58:119-44. (PMID: 16903804)
Scand J Psychol. 2020 Feb;61(1):90-96. (PMID: 30690741)
Child Dev. 2017 Mar;88(2):417-426. (PMID: 28195431)
Child Soc. 2013 May;27(3):161-173. (PMID: 26300586)
Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Apr;210(4):261-268. (PMID: 28153928)
J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2015 Nov;43(8):1427-1438. (PMID: 25899879)
Acta Paediatr. 2015 Oct;104(10):997-1004. (PMID: 26096198)
Int J Qual Health Care. 2007 Dec;19(6):349-57. (PMID: 17872937)
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Oct 12;18(20):. (PMID: 34682441)
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2012 Feb;15(2):117-21. (PMID: 22165917)
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;46(6):553-60. (PMID: 22441205)
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;40(1):51-4. (PMID: 16403038)
J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2014 Sep;21(7):635-41. (PMID: 24673839)
Health Commun. 2015;30(12):1166-8. (PMID: 26372027)
Depress Anxiety. 2014 Jun;31(6):506-16. (PMID: 24448889)
Psychol Sci. 2017 Feb;28(2):204-215. (PMID: 28085574)

Keywords: adolescents; life challenges; life skills; mental health; qualitative interviews; voices; young adults

Date Created: 20211224 Date Completed: 20211231 Latest Revision: 20211231

20221213

PMC8700979

10.3390/ijerph182413101

34948711