Background: Youth mental health challenges are an emerging and persistent global public health issue despite efforts for improvement. As part of a broader social innovation study to transform youth mental health systems, this scoping review assesses interventions that aim for systems-level changes to improve the mental well-being of transitional age youth (TAY) (15-25 years) in high-income countries. Methods: The scoping review method of Arksey and O'Malley (International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8, 2005, 19) was used. Seven health and social service databases were utilized with study inclusion criteria applied. Titles and abstracts were screened by two independent reviewers, and four members of the research team were involved in the review and thematic analysis of selected studies. Results: A total of 5652 peer-reviewed articles were screened at the title and abstract level, of which 65 were assessed in full for eligibility, and 29 were included for final analysis. The peer-reviewed articles and gray literature were based in seven different highincome countries and published between 2008 and 2019. Four major themes to support youth mental health were identified in the literature: (a) improving transitions from youth to adult mental healthcare services; (b) moving care from institutions to the community; (c) general empowerment of youth in society; and (d) youth voice within the system. Inconsistent or limited systems-level approaches to TAY mental health care were noted. Conclusions: There remains a need for innovative, evidence-based approaches to improve TAY mental health care.
Key Practitioner Message• Several interventions aimed at preventing, managing, and treating increasing transitional age youth (TAY) mental health challenges have failed to collectively eradicate systemic barriers to youth mental health promotion. • Improving TAY mental health requires an innovative approach that addresses the social determinants of mental health throughout the life span and at multiple systems levels. • This article is a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature that seeks to identify the systems-level interventions promoting and protecting youth mental health in high-income countries. • The results of this scoping review can equip those involved in system change and innovation with evidencebased interventions and themes of what may help promote and protect youth mental health. • Investment in youth mental health is congruent with a rights-based approach to health and advances development goals. • Mental health clinicians, innovators, researchers, and TAY and their informal caregivers/supporters should work together to develop transformative best practices to improve TAY mental health. • The majority of evidence-based literature has focused on the following: (a) improving transitions from youth to adult mental healthcare services; (b) moving care out into the community; (c) general empowerment of youth in society; and (d) youth voice within the system.
