This study, published in World Psychiatry (February 2022), shows why young people need new forms of mental health care, and how peer support can play a key role.
Key data
- Publication: February 11, 2022
- Authors: Thérèse A.M.J. van Amelsvoort, Sophie M.J. Leijdesdorff
- Institution: Maastricht University
- Journal: World Psychiatry
Summary
Background: Around the world, many young people struggle with mental health problem, but access to timely and appropriate help is still limited. This gap in care, the treatment gap, often means problems get worse, with serious consequences for health and future.
Goal: To highlight the need to involve young people in shaping mental health care, and to explore the value of peer support, digital tools, and accessible first-stop centres.
Method
- International trends in youth mental health care: focus on peer involvement and access
- Reflections on the effects of the corona pandemic on young people and mental health care
- Comparison with existing models, such as those of McGorry and colleagues
Results
- The corona pandemic exacerbated mental health problems among young people (more loneliness, suicidality and school drop-out)
- Digitalization offered opportunities for mHealth apps and online support, tailored to the world of young people
- Young people still experience many barriers to seeking help: stigma, costs, waiting lists and lack of knowledge
- Peer support lowers these barriers, makes sensitive topics discussable and promotes recovery
- Conditions for success: clear division of roles, training and supervision of peer workers and close connections with care systems
Conclusion
Accessible, modern youth care should be youth-friendly. With peer involvement and low-threshold first-stop centres. Young people don’t just deserve better access to support, they deserve a real say in how that support is shaped and offered.
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