Participatory Systems Modelling for Youth Mental Health: An Evaluation Study Applying a Comprehensive Multi-Scale...

Area of Science:

• Systems science and public health
• Youth mental health service delivery
• Participatory action research

Background:

• Youth mental health services face challenges like fragmentation and poor resource allocation.
• Systems modelling and simulation offer potential for evidence-informed decision-making in resource-limited settings.
• Effective implementation of participatory modelling requires improved evaluation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an evaluation protocol for participatory systems modelling in youth mental health.
• To assess the feasibility, value, impact, and sustainability of this approach.
• To enhance decision support for youth mental health policy and planning.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a multi-scale evaluation framework based on participatory action research principles.
• Employing formative, summative, process, and outcome evaluation techniques.
• Implementing novel data collection, including gamified surveys for social network analysis and patient journey mapping, engaging diverse stakeholders.

Main Results:

• The protocol facilitates a comprehensive evaluation of participatory systems modelling.
• It addresses the experiences of various stakeholders, including young people with lived experience.
• Identifies social and technical opportunities and challenges for implementation in complex settings.

Conclusions:

• The described evaluation protocol can guide the effective implementation of participatory systems modelling for youth mental health.
• This approach has the potential to improve youth mental health policy, planning, and outcomes.
• The protocol is adaptable for international applications across disciplines and contexts.