“We’re not educated on that enough, and we really should be”: adolescents’ views of mental health service education

John Goodwin, Eileen Savage, Niamh O’Brien, Áine O’Donovan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Despite the susceptibility to the experience of mental distress during adolescence, this population often demonstrate poor help-seeking behaviours. Efforts have been made by schools to address adolescents’ knowledge around mental health; less focus has been given to addressing their knowledge of mental health services and avenues for help-seeking. This study aimed to explore adolescents’ views of mental health services education. Methods: An interpretive descriptive design was adopted. Thirty adolescents from Ireland participated in individual interviews. Data were analysed using content analysis. Two themes were identified: Recognizing Gaps in Knowledge about Mental Health Service Education, and Enhancing Mental Health Service Education for Young People. Participants reported gaps in their knowledge about mental health services and were uncertain how to access help. Current strategies (e.g., print media) were considered tokenistic and ineffective; instead, multimedia (film/TV) approaches were recommended. Results: Two themes were identified: Recognizing Gaps in Knowledge about Mental HealthService Education, and Enhancing Mental Health Service Education for YoungPeople. Participants reported gaps in their knowledge about mental healthservices and were uncertain how to access help. Current strategies (e.g., print media) were considered tokenistic and ineffective; instead, multimedia (film/TV) approaches were recommended. Conclusions: Current mental health education programmes need to expand their focus beyond social/emotional well-being, providing adolescents with the knowledge they need to access appropriate supports. Considering traditional print media was viewed as ineffective, while film/TV had an influence on perceptions of mental health services, a multimedia approach to education may be an effective way of engaging this population.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2249287
Pages (from-to)2249287
JournalInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Aug 2023

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • education
  • help-seeking
  • interpretive description
  • mental health
  • mental health education
  • mental health services
  • qualitative
  • school mental health
  • young people
  • Humans
  • Mental Health
  • Emotions
  • Mental Health Services
  • Adolescent
  • Schools
  • Health Education

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