Understanding mental health and help-seeking among adolescents in Europe: a focus group-based participatory study to inform preventive interventions

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dc.abstract.enThis multi-centre, qualitative study aimed to identify dimensions of mental health and possible determining factors of help-seeking among young people in Europe. Based on adolescent experiences, key risk factors for their mental health should be detected to inform preventive interventions. Focus group sessions were conducted in Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK with adolescents aged 10 to 24 years, and their stakeholders (parents, school professionals and clinicians). The discussions followed a broad rationale asking about stressors, coping strategies, and barriers and facilitators of help-seeking. The recorded sessions were transcribed and analysed via thematic analysis. All seven sites conducted the analysis in local languages and final results were collated after translation. Overall, 124 adolescents and 81 stakeholders participated in 40 focus groups. Across all age groups of adolescents, pressure to perform academically and social life were core influencers of mental health. Trust was the key prerequisite for seeking support, whereby personal contacts were the foremost points of contact. Both groups recognized advantages and limitations of digital resources, although adolescents were more likely to mention positive aspects. Adolescents and stakeholders both viewed lack of trust and fear of judgment as significant barriers against accessing support services. Risk factors for the mental health of adolescents encompassed both personal and sociocultural aspects. Our findings highlight the need for mental health literacy of adolescents and their stakehoders to overcome personal risk factors. Sociocultural prevention must focus on building secure, non-judgmental relationships within school environments and professional support systems.
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.affiliationWydział Projektowania w Warszawie
dc.contributor.authorMayer, Gwendolyn
dc.contributor.authorTschobur, Nelli
dc.contributor.authorMichael, Aggeliki
dc.contributor.authorFloris, Francesca
dc.contributor.authorLeśnierowska, Magdalena
dc.contributor.authorMaciejewski, Jan
dc.contributor.authorPietrzak, Magdalena
dc.contributor.authorSmoktunowicz, Ewelina
dc.contributor.authorMcKendrick, Mel
dc.contributor.authorStocks, Helen
dc.contributor.authorPiers, Rowena
dc.contributor.authorKolinska, Ula
dc.contributor.authorSchwannauer, Matthias
dc.contributor.authorLampert, Ana
dc.contributor.authorSmrke, Urska
dc.contributor.authorMlakar, Izidor
dc.contributor.authorStylianou, Natassa
dc.contributor.authorParmatzias, Angelos
dc.contributor.authorFrisardi, Vincenza
dc.contributor.authorGuglielmi, Dina
dc.contributor.authorMazzetti, Greta
dc.contributor.authorMarques, Diana
dc.contributor.authorMunoz Saez, Elisa
dc.contributor.authorBallesteros Rodriguez, Sofia
dc.contributor.authorRico, Maria Jose
dc.contributor.authorAlmeida, Rosa
dc.contributor.authorLosada Duran, Raquel
dc.contributor.authorHeger, Johanna
dc.contributor.authorZafar, Ali
dc.contributor.authorDickson, Adele
dc.contributor.authorSchultz, Jobst - Hendrik
dc.date.access2026-10-14
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-26T10:00:49Z
dc.date.available2026-10-26T10:00:49Z
dc.date.created2026-10-14
dc.date.issued2026-10-14
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>This multi-centre, qualitative study aimed to identify dimensions of mental health and possible determining factors of help-seeking among young people in Europe. Based on adolescent experiences, key risk factors for their mental health should be detected to inform preventive interventions. Focus group sessions were conducted in Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK with adolescents aged 10 to 24 years, and their stakeholders (parents, school professionals and clinicians). The discussions followed a broad rationale asking about stressors, coping strategies, and barriers and facilitators of help-seeking. The recorded sessions were transcribed and analysed via thematic analysis. All seven sites conducted the analysis in local languages and final results were collated after translation. Overall, 124 adolescents and 81 stakeholders participated in 40 focus groups. Across all age groups of adolescents, pressure to perform academically and social life were core influencers of mental health. Trust was the key prerequisite for seeking support, whereby personal contacts were the foremost points of contact. Both groups recognized advantages and limitations of digital resources, although adolescents were more likely to mention positive aspects. Adolescents and stakeholders both viewed lack of trust and fear of judgment as significant barriers against accessing support services. Risk factors for the mental health of adolescents encompassed both personal and sociocultural aspects. Our findings highlight the need for mental health literacy of adolescents and their stakehoders to overcome personal risk factors. Sociocultural prevention must focus on building secure, non-judgmental relationships within school environments and professional support systems.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber101080923
dc.description.granttitleSMILE: Supporting Mental health in adolescents: Integrated methodology for cLinical dEcisions and evidence-based interventions
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s00787-026-03216-y
dc.identifier.eissn1435-165X
dc.identifier.issn1018-8827
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2666
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00787-026-03216-y
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.enMental health
dc.subject.enhelp-seeking behaviour
dc.subject.enminors
dc.subject.enadolescents
dc.subject.enpreventive health services
dc.subject.enemotional stress
dc.subject.ensocial stigma
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleUnderstanding mental health and help-seeking among adolescents in Europe: a focus group-based participatory study to inform preventive interventions
dc.title.journalEuropean Child &amp; Adolescent Psychiatry
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle