Editorial

4 pages, 247 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue on “Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People”

by Katherine M. Boydell and Michael Hodgins

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6660; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126660 - 21 Jun 2021

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Abstract

This editorial to the Special Issue on Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People provides an overview of the importance of qualitative inquiry to the field of child and youth mental health. The issue highlights research using qualitative methods to depict [...] Read more.

This editorial to the Special Issue on Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People provides an overview of the importance of qualitative inquiry to the field of child and youth mental health. The issue highlights research using qualitative methods to depict the lived experiences and contribution of young people in areas that reflect important mental health concerns, ranging from anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, positive resilience in young people in times of crisis, and drug and alcohol treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

Research

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17 pages, 1017 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Qualitative Evaluation of Young People’s, Parents’ and Carers’ Experiences of a National and Specialist CAMHS Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Outpatient Service

by Namali Ratnaweera, Katrina Hunt and Jake Camp

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5927; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18115927 - 31 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3920

Abstract

(1) Background: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is the recommended treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms in adults, however, research investigating the effectiveness of DBT for adolescents is limited. The present study explores the experiences of young people and their parents/carers of a [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is the recommended treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms in adults, however, research investigating the effectiveness of DBT for adolescents is limited. The present study explores the experiences of young people and their parents/carers of a DBT service using qualitative methodology. (2) Methods: Young people and their parents/carers, who completed DBT within the National and Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health DBT Service based at the Maudsley Hospital in London, were asked questions regarding their experience of the service. Data was collected from young people who completed treatment between July 2019 and July 2020 (n = 18) and their parents and carers (n = 7). (3) Results: Amongst young people, the themes identified were: a new way of living, better understanding of self, new skills, person-centred approach, and relationships with others. Parent and carer interviews revealed themes of improved relationships, feeling supported, improved quality of life, and time/timing. (4) Conclusions: Young people reported improvements in emerging BPD symptomology after completing DBT. Parents and carers reported improvements in their young person and families since starting DBT. A longer DBT programme, earlier DBT intervention, and the time-consuming nature of DBT were highlighted as areas for improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

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12 pages, 473 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Speaking Softly and Listening Hard: The Process of Involving Young Voices from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse School in Child Health Research

by Nora Samir, Antonio Mendoza Diaz, Michael Hodgins, Simone Matic, Samira Bawden, Jessica Khoury, Valsamma Eapen and Raghu Lingam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5808; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18115808 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3808

Abstract

The involvement of young people in the planning of research continues to be rare, particularly for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This paper describes our experience in establishing a Youth Research Advisory Group (YRAG) in South West Sydney (SWS), including [...] Read more.

The involvement of young people in the planning of research continues to be rare, particularly for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This paper describes our experience in establishing a Youth Research Advisory Group (YRAG) in South West Sydney (SWS), including barriers and successful strategies. One hundred and fifteen students between school Years 7 and 12 (ages 11–18) took part in at least one of five sessions between 2019 and 2021. In total, we carried out 26 YRAG sessions, with between five and 30 students in each. Sessions focused on mapping the health priorities of the participants and co-developing research project proposals related to their health priorities. Our work with students revealed that their main areas of concern were mental health and stress. This led to material changes in our research strategy, to include “Mental Health” as a new research stream and co-develop new mental health-related projects with the students. Important strategies that enabled our research included maintaining flexibility to work seamlessly with organisational and individual preferences, and ensuring our processes were directed by the schools and—most importantly—the students themselves. Strategies such as maintaining an informal context, responding rapidly to student preference, and regularly renegotiating access enabled us to engage with the students to deepen our understanding of their experiences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

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13 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Positive Organisational Arts-Based Youth Scholarship: Redressing Discourse on Danger, Disquiet, and Distress during COVID-19

by Ann Dadich, Katherine M. Boydell, Stephanie Habak and Chloe Watfern

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5655; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18115655 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3291

Abstract

This methodological article argues for the potential of positive organisational arts-based youth scholarship as a methodology to understand and promote positive experiences among young people. With reference to COVID-19, exemplars sourced from social media platforms and relevant organisations demonstrate the remarkable creative brilliance [...] Read more.

This methodological article argues for the potential of positive organisational arts-based youth scholarship as a methodology to understand and promote positive experiences among young people. With reference to COVID-19, exemplars sourced from social media platforms and relevant organisations demonstrate the remarkable creative brilliance of young people. During these difficult times, young people used song, dance, storytelling, and art to express themselves, (re)connect with others, champion social change, and promote health and wellbeing. This article demonstrates the power of positive organisational arts-based youth scholarship to understand how young people use art to redress negativity via a positive lens of agency, peace, collectedness, and calm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

15 pages, 10835 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Body Mapping in a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program: Eliciting New Identity and Experience

by Sophia Macken, Sally Nathan, Michelle Jersky, Katherine M. Boydell and Alexandra Gibson

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4942; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18094942 - 06 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2729

Abstract

Arts-based approaches have not been widely used in the drug and alcohol treatment sector. In this study, we examined the utility of the arts-based method of Body Mapping in an Australian residential treatment centre. Two workshops were held to explore young people’s strengths [...] Read more.

Arts-based approaches have not been widely used in the drug and alcohol treatment sector. In this study, we examined the utility of the arts-based method of Body Mapping in an Australian residential treatment centre. Two workshops were held to explore young people’s strengths and support networks in order to improve understandings of young people’s lives, identities and experiences of treatment. Semi-structured follow-up interviews were conducted and triangulated with observational notes and staff interviews. We identified four major themes: engaging through art; removing the mask; revealing strengths; and a sense of achievement. Overall, this study highlighted the value of Body Mapping as an approach to engage with young people, providing rich in-depth data about their lived experiences, including in the alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

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12 pages, 297 KiB

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Insights about Screen-Use Conflict from Discussions between Mothers and Pre-Adolescents: A Thematic Analysis

by Kathleen Francis, Hanneke Scholten, Isabela Granic, Jessica Lougheed and Tom Hollenstein

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4686; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18094686 - 28 Apr 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2535

Abstract

Digital screens have become an integral part of everyday life. In the wake of the digital swell, pre-adolescents and their parents are learning to navigate seemingly new terrain regarding digital media use. The present study aimed to investigate parent and pre-adolescent perceptions of [...] Read more.

Digital screens have become an integral part of everyday life. In the wake of the digital swell, pre-adolescents and their parents are learning to navigate seemingly new terrain regarding digital media use. The present study aimed to investigate parent and pre-adolescent perceptions of screen use and the source of conflict surrounding digital media. We employed a qualitative thematic analysis of 200 parent and pre-adolescent dyads discussing screen use. Our analysis showed five overarching themes for screen use perceptions and conflict: screen time, effects of screen use, balance, rules, and reasons for screen use. In contrast to previous studies that mainly focused on parental perceptions, we were also able to shed light on pre-adolescent perceptions of screen use and the difference in opinions with their parents. Furthermore, we found that patterns of the source of screen use conflict were oftentimes rooted in the age-old developmental tug of war between autonomy-seeking pre-adolescents and authority-seeking parents. Though navigating autonomy-granting and seeking behavior is familiar to developmental scientists, negotiating these challenges in a new digital world is unfamiliar. Autonomy support, open dialogue, and playful interaction between parents and children are needed to understand and resolve conflict of digital media use in family contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

21 pages, 9227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Youth’s Lived Experience of Anxiety through Metaphors: A Qualitative, Arts-Based Study

by Roberta Lynn Woodgate, Pauline Tennent and Nicole Legras

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4315; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18084315 - 19 Apr 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4789

Abstract

Living with anxiety can be a complex, biopsychosocial experience that is unique to each person and embedded in their contexts and lived worlds. Scales and questionnaires are necessary to quantify anxiety, yet these approaches are not always able to reflect the lived experience [...] Read more.

Living with anxiety can be a complex, biopsychosocial experience that is unique to each person and embedded in their contexts and lived worlds. Scales and questionnaires are necessary to quantify anxiety, yet these approaches are not always able to reflect the lived experience of psychological distress experienced by youth. Guided by hermeneutic phenomenology, our research aimed to amplify the voices of youth living with anxiety. Fifty-eight youth living with anxiety took part in in-depth, open-ended interviews and participatory arts-based methods (photovoice and ecomaps). Analysis was informed by van Manen’s method of data analysis with attention to lived space, lived body, lived time, and lived relationships, as well as the meanings of living with anxiety. Youth relied on the following metaphors to describe their experiences: A shrinking world; The heavy, heavy backpack; Play, pause, rewind, forward; and A fine balance. Overall, youth described their anxiety as a monster, contributing to feelings of fear, loss, and pain, but also hope. The findings from this study can contribute to the reduction of barriers in knowledge translation by encouraging the use of narrative and visual metaphors as a communicative tool to convey youth’s lived experience of anxiety to researchers, clinicians, and the public. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

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15 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Smartphone Apps Are Cool, But Do They Help Me?”: A Qualitative Interview Study of Adolescents’ Perspectives on Using Smartphone Interventions to Manage Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

by Anja Čuš, Julian Edbrooke-Childs, Susanne Ohmann, Paul L. Plener and Türkan Akkaya-Kalayci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3289; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18063289 - 22 Mar 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4351

Abstract

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major mental health problem associated with negative psychosocial outcomes and it most often starts in early adolescence. Despite this, adolescents are rarely involved in informing the development of interventions designed to address their mental health problems. This study [...] Read more.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major mental health problem associated with negative psychosocial outcomes and it most often starts in early adolescence. Despite this, adolescents are rarely involved in informing the development of interventions designed to address their mental health problems. This study aimed to (1) assess adolescents’ needs and preferences about future interventions that are delivered through smartphones and (2) develop a framework with implications for designing engaging digital mental health interventions. Fifteen adolescent girls, aged 12–18 years, who met diagnostic criteria for a current NSSI disorder and were in contact with mental health services, participated in semi-structured interviews. Following a reflexive thematic analysis approach, this study identified two main themes: (1) Experiences of NSSI (depicts the needs of young people related to their everyday experiences of managing NSSI) and (2) App in Context (portrays preferences of young people about smartphone interventions and reflects adolescents’ views on how technology itself can improve or hinder engaging with these interventions). Adolescent patients expressed interest in using smartphone mental health interventions if they recognize them as helpful, relevant for their life situation and easy to use. The developed framework suggests that digital mental health interventions are embedded in three contexts (i.e., person using the intervention, mental health condition, and technology-related factors) which together need to inform the development of engaging digital resources. To achieve this, the cooperation among people with lived experience, mental health experts, and human computer interaction professionals is vital. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative Inquiry in Mental Health Research with Young People)

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