What Young People Want from Mental Health Services; A Youth Informed Approach for the Digital Age; 1

Young people experience one of the highest rates of mental health problems of any group, but make the least use of the support available to them. To reach young people in distress, we need to understand what this digital generation want from mental health professionals and services. Based on interviews with nearly 400 young people, this book offers a vision of youth mental health issues and services through the eyes of young people themselves. It offers professionals important insights into the meaning of identity and agency for this generation and explores how these issues play out in young people's expectations of mental health support. It shows how, despite young people's immersion in digital technology, genuine and trusting relationships remain a key ingredient in their priorities for support. It considers what access to mental health support means for a generation who have grown up with the immediacy enabled by digital technology. Young people's accounts also provide crucial insights into how they are using digital resources to manage their own mental health – in ways often not appreciated by professionals who design internet interventions. What Young People Want From Mental Health Services offers clear guidance to counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, youth workers, social workers, service providers and policymakers about how to work with youth and design their services so they are a better match for young people today. It contributes to a growing movement calling for a 'Youth Informed Approach' to mental health to address the needs of young people. What Young People Want from Mental Health Services Cover -1 Endorsements 2 Half Title 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Dedication 8 Contents 10 Preface 11 1. Introduction 16 Youth in context 17 Talking about young people 22 Hearing the views of young people 24 Talking about youth mental health 25 Youth mental health services 26 Researching young people's priorities for mental health support 28 The structure of the book 29 2. Youth mental health in context: The world is different now 31 Pressure to succeed: We should have our lives sorted out 32 Looking for belonging: When I feel isolated that is the worst 36 Fearing rejection: Most people want to fit in 42 What do young people want? 46 3. Communicating about mental health: It's how we talk about it 48 Barriers to talking about distress: You are meant to just be chill about everything 48 The challenge of diagnostic language: You feel like it has to be a huge problem 55 Resisting the silence: We really tried to fight for something to be said 58 Talking with friends: That's where people would open up the most 60 What do young people want? 63 4. Identity and mental health: It's who I am 64 Making an identity: It made her feel different 64 Accepting a mental health problem: I was not the best me 70 Making a positive identity: It was okay to be who I am 74 What do young people want? 79 5. Agency in mental health: It's my choice 80 Being powerless: You get stuck with that 81 Losing control: I did not want to go 83 Resisting authority: I refused to say anything 88 Reclaiming agency: You get to choose the direction in your life 92 What do young people want? 95 6. Relationships and mental health: You only share things with those you trust 96 Trusting in friendship: Like when you are deep friends 96 Needing connection: No one feels comfortable talking to a stranger 100 Relying on professionalism: I put my trust in them 108 What do young people want? 111 7. Access and mental health: It's there when you need it 112 Finding a safe place: An environment where I felt comfortable 112 Getting access: Getting in is a mission 119 Needing flexibility: Like whenever you need it 122 What do young people want? 127 8. Digital technology and mental health: Chill and shoot zombies 128 Finding safe digital spaces: Do not talk to strangers on the internet 129 Using digital resources: Is it worth engaging with? 134 Finding support: Texting is much more comfortable 138 What do young people want? 147 9. A Youth Informed Approach to mental health 148 Principle one: Normalise distress and help-seeking 149 Principle two: Tailor support to identity 149 Principle three: Respect choice 150 Principle four: Listen more than talk 150 Principle five: Build trusting relationships 151 Principle six: Utilise informal social networks 151 Principle seven: Improve accessibility 152 Principle eight: Use technology 153 Principle nine: Allow inclusive decision making 153 Promising directions in youth mental health 154 Training mental health professionals differently 156 Allowing space to change 158 Data Sources 160 References 164 Index 174 "Young people experience one of the highest rates of mental health problems of any group, but make least use of the support available to them. To reach young people in distress, we need to understand what this digital generation want from mental health professionals and services. Based on interviews with nearly 400 young people, this book offers a vision of youth mental health issues and services through the eyes of young people themselves. It offers professionals important insights into the meaning of identity and agency for this generation, and explores how these issues play out in young people's expectations of mental health support. It shows how, despite young people's immersion in digital technology, genuine and trusting relationships remain a key ingredient in their priorities for support. It considers what access to mental health support means for a generation who have grown up with the immediacy enabled by digital technology. Young people's accounts also provide crucial insights into how they are using digital resources to manage their own mental health - in ways often not appreciated by professionals who design internet interventions. What Young People Want offers clear guidance to counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, youth workers, social workers, service providers and policy makers about how to work with youth, and design their services so they are a better match for young people today. It contributes to a growing movement calling for a 'Youth Informed Approach' to mental health to address the needs of young people"--Publisher's description "Young people experience one of the highest rates of mental health problems of any group, but make least use of the support available to them. To reach young people in distress, we need to understand what this digital generation want from mental health professionals and services. Based on interviews with nearly 400 young people, this book offers a vision of youth mental health issues and services through the eyes of young people themselves. It offers professionals important insights into the meaning of identity and agency for this generation, and explores how these issues play out in young people's expectations of mental health support. It shows how, despite young people's immersion in digital technology, genuine and trusting relationships remain a key ingredient in their priorities for support. It considers what access to mental health support means for a generation who have grown up with the immediacy enabled by digital technology. Young people's accounts also provide crucial insights into how they are using digital resources to manage their own mental health - in ways often not appreciated by professionals who design internet interventions. What Young People Want offers clear guidance to counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, youth workers, social workers, service providers and policy makers about how to work with youth, and design their services so they are a better match for young people today. It contributes to a growing movement calling for a 'Youth Informed Approach' to mental health to address the needs of young people"-- Provided by publisher