Defining research priorities for youth public mental health: reflections on a coproduction approach to transdisciplinary working

Abstract

Background With most mental health problems established during childhood/adolescence, young people must be a key focus of public mental health approaches. Despite the range of factors known to influence mental health, evidence for effective interventions is lacking for this age group. This study aimed to define priorities for future public health intervention-focused research to support youth mental health by engaging with transdisciplinary stakeholder groups. Methods Our coproduction approach involved priority-setting workshops with young people, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. Each workshop focused on three thematic areas: social connections and relationships; schools and other education settings; and key groups at greater risk of mental ill-health, specifically LGBTQ+ and care-experienced young people. Workshop outputs were synthesized to define research priorities. Results This paper presents the research priorities that were defined through the priority-setting workshops, and our reflections on the coproduction approach to guide future similar activities undertaken by others. Ten priorities for youth public mental health research were defined, covering the following areas: building supportive relationships; whole system approaches; social media; support at times of transition; improving links between different services; development and training for those who support young people; staff mental health; engaging with families; awareness of and access to services; and out-of-school and community settings. Conclusions These research priorities can inform future intervention development to support youth public mental health. Our transdisciplinary approach means the identified research priorities are likely to be relevant to young people’s experiences and needs, and to fit with the needs of those working in practice and policy to support young people.

Recruitment and retention of adolescents for an ecological momentary assessment measurement burst mental health study: The MHIM engagement strategy

“…There is increasing recognition of an ethical responsibility to consult young people on matters that affect them, including on the design of research studies about them. 39 , 40 , 41 Previous research in both longitudinal studies of adolescence 16 , 42 and remote measurement designs 17 , 43 have further highlighted the value of consulting with representatives of the target population in their study design and recruitment and retention strategy development.…”

Guiding principles for accelerating change through health inequities research and practice: A modified Delphi consensus process

“…Our modified Delphi approach successfully gathered perspectives from a range of health and social care professionals, researchers with expertise across a range of health inequities topics, community organisation representatives, and a smaller number from policy and arts/culture backgrounds. Our approach differed from other prioritisation exercises in relation to health inequalities and public health which focus on agreeing research priorities (e.g., [57–59]). Instead, our statements aim to achieve consensus on ways of working which will help tackle the inherent structural and social forces within research, education and engagement/advocacy processes which serve to maintain and perpetuate inequities in place.…”

Youth partnership in suicide prevention research: moving beyond the safety discourse

“…Moves towards youth-led research, whereby young people as ‘experts by experience’ take on the role of agenda setters by defining priorities or directions of research, although slower, have been significant. 14 A recent example of youth-led research 15 was undertaken by the UK Research and Innovation-funded Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement of Youth Mental Public Health mental health research network. The authors describe a UK-wide priority-setting exercise to identify public health intervention-related research to support youth mental health, offering examples of good practice in coproduction, whereby young people take on the role of agents of change.…”

“…The authors also reflect on the challenges of involving multiple stakeholders with different, and often competing, priorities and ensuring the voices of young people are not lost during the process of finding a shared language. 15 …”