"It Can Be Quite Daunting": Promoting Mental Health Service Use for Vulnerable Young People

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Adolescent Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Adolescents face significant social, environmental, and psychological challenges, increasing vulnerability to mental health issues.
• 15% of adolescents globally experience poor mental health, with many not seeking or receiving adequate care.
• Youth mental health services require enhanced youth-friendliness to encourage help-seeking behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore staff perspectives on a new pilot volunteer model of care in a youth mental health service.
• To assess the impact of volunteers on service accessibility and engagement for young people.
• To identify benefits and challenges associated with integrating volunteers into youth mental health settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design utilizing semi-structured one-on-one interviews.
• Eight staff members from a youth mental health service participated in the study.
• Thematic analysis using an inductive approach was applied to the interview data.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged: 'promoting service use' and 'implementation to practice'.
• Staff reported benefits including reduced workload, while volunteers gained experience and knowledge.
• A need for enhanced training and supervision for volunteers was identified.

Conclusions:

• Volunteers can foster a welcoming environment, improving access and engagement for young people in mental health services.
• Integrating volunteers enhances service accessibility and can reduce staff workload.
• Volunteers contribute to meaningful engagement for young people seeking mental health support.