Young People's Perspectives on Mental Health Services: Empowerment through Education and Shared Decision-Making

Despite high levels of mental ill-health amongst young people, this group exhibits low help-seeking and high dropout rates from mental health services. Research has shown that shared decision-making can aid individuals in receiving suitable and effective healthcare, but young people often report feeling uninvolved in treatment decisions. A recent study conducted by the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre aimed to co-design a clinical education and participant information program for the Youth Model of Care. This model focuses on personalized and measurement-based care, promoting shared decision-making between young people and clinical service providers.

Key Takeaways:

• Young people aged 15-30 experience high levels of mental ill-health, yet exhibit low help-seeking and high dropout rates from mental health services.
• Shared decision-making can improve healthcare outcomes, but young people often feel uninvolved in treatment decisions.
• A study conducted by the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre co-designed a clinical education and participant information program for the Youth Model of Care, which promotes shared decision-making between young people and clinical service providers.
• Participants in the study found it empowering to learn about transdiagnostic models of mental illness, such as clinical staging, which reduces self-blame.
• Young people had limited knowledge of links between mental health and other life domains and benefited from education on multidisciplinary treatment options.
• Measurement-based care was seen as a crucial method for improving shared decision-making between young people and health professionals.
• To facilitate shared decision-making, young people want better information on their rights in care and more support to share their expertise in their own needs, values, and treatment preferences.

Statistics:

• 24 young people (aged 16-31, M = 21.5) participated in workshops to co-design the clinical education and participant information program.
• Participants reported high levels of mental ill-health before accessing mental health services.
• The study found that young people wanted to be educated on transdiagnostic models of mental illness to reduce self-blame.
• Measurement-based care was seen as an essential method for improving shared decision-making between young people and health professionals.

Sources:

• Youth Perspectives on 'Highly Personalised and Measurement-Based Care': Qualitative Co-Design of Education Materials. Health Expectations, 2024;27(4).
• NewsRx. University of Sydney Reports Findings in Mental Health Diseases and Conditions (Youth Perspectives on 'Highly Personalised and Measurement-Based Care': Qualitative Co-Design of Education Materials). Education Letter. July 24, 2024; p 586.