In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the pivotal role adolescents play in improving mental health outcomes within their communities. A recent qualitative study on Brazilian youth, senior-authored by Dr. Gabriela Pavarini, Senior Departmental Lecturer and published in BMJ Open, sheds light on young people’s views about their participation in enhancing community mental health and well-being. This study reveals that adolescents are not merely passive recipients of interventions but are eager to contribute their insights and ideas for improving the mental health of their peers. The study underscores the importance of involving youth in discussions about mental health, as their perspectives can provide valuable insights into effective, culturally relevant strategies.Â
Building on these findings, the team co-designed an innovative intervention in the form of a storytelling chatbot aimed at further enhancing youth participation. The study, led by Dr. Gabriela Pavarini alongside research and industry partners and a Youth Collaborative Group, published in JCPP, explores the co-design and acceptability testing of a chat-story intervention in Brazil. This project takes a robust participatory approach by engaging adolescents as co-leads throughout the intervention's creation and implementation. By incorporating community members at every stage, the study highlights the significance of involving youth in the design of interventions that directly impact them. This co-design process ensures that the digital intervention resonates with young people, making it more likely to be accepted and effectively utilized in promoting mental health.Â
The participatory model adopted in this study presents a powerful example of how youth engagement can be leveraged to create mental health interventions that are both meaningful and effective. Adolescents have proven to be proactive contributors to the mental health dialogue, and initiatives like this storytelling intervention provide a platform for their voices to be heard.Â
Find out more about the making of the chatbot and view the full team.
The work from these papers was funded by a British Academy Youth Futures Grant and an NDPH Fellowship from Oxford Population Health.
In a related development, Dr. Gabriela Pavarini, Senior Departmental Lecturer, has been invited to join The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Lived Experience in Mental Health Research. The commission aims to centre lived experience in mental health research, empowering individuals who have directly faced mental health challenges to lead and inform research efforts. This innovative commission represents a step forward in the broader mental health landscape, emphasizing the importance of lived experience in shaping mental health policy and practice.Â
Together, these efforts highlight the growing recognition of adolescents and individuals with lived experience as essential contributors to the future of mental health research and intervention. By empowering these voices, we can create more inclusive, effective, and sustainable approaches to mental health and well-being.Â
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