Answers: Understanding Needs of Young People with Mental Ill Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Answers: Understanding the Needs of Young People with Mental Ill Health
IRAS ID
324740
Contact name
Jon Wilson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Despite widespread research on how young people’s mental health has declined in the period since COVID-19, there is relatively little literature on what helps young people with their mental health in this time, less so from the perspectives of the young people themselves. The focus of the current study is to provide a descriptive report of what young people (aged 11 - 25) feel is helpful in supporting their mental health and wellbeing in the post-pandemic recovery period, representing young people both nationally and based in Norfolk/Suffolk. We aim to present a broad, inclusive picture of helpful factors, encompassing formal services, supports from the community/social networks and individual strategies. In order to inform the content brought to focus groups, we have conducted a systematic review (looking at young people across the UK) and collated Norfolk/Suffolk-specific secondary data on what young people feel helps their mental health/wellbeing since the first pandemic. We have done early consultation with young people with pre-existing mental health conditions during the pandemic who spoke about the struggles of seeing a positive future and identified unmet needs to do with their wellbeing. These insights have been used to guide focus groups which will be conducted with young people based in Norfolk/Suffolk who have accessed or attempted to access mental health services. Focus group participants will be recruited from relevant NHS teams and local established non-NHS participation groups in the Norfolk/Suffolk region.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
23/NS/0044
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion