Adolescent boys’ experiences of mental health and school health services - an interview study from Norway
(2024) In BMC Public Health 24(1).- Abstract
Background: Mental health problems among adolescents is a global challenge. During the transition to adolescence, physiological, psychological, and social changes occur, leading to increased vulnerability. Thus, adolescent boys are less likely to seek help for mental health problems, which makes them an undetected group. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of adolescent boys’ experiences of mental health and school health service. Methods: An inductive, qualitative design was chosen using three focus group interviews and three individual interviews. The study included 18 adolescent boys in 7th grade, in a school located in a medium-sized municipality in Norway. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content... (More)
Background: Mental health problems among adolescents is a global challenge. During the transition to adolescence, physiological, psychological, and social changes occur, leading to increased vulnerability. Thus, adolescent boys are less likely to seek help for mental health problems, which makes them an undetected group. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of adolescent boys’ experiences of mental health and school health service. Methods: An inductive, qualitative design was chosen using three focus group interviews and three individual interviews. The study included 18 adolescent boys in 7th grade, in a school located in a medium-sized municipality in Norway. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were followed in this study. Results: The overall theme “barriers towards seeking help”, and three categories— navigating stigma and privacy concerns; perceptions of self-responsibility; and lacking knowledge of mental health problems and help-seeking—described the adolescent boys experiences. The awareness and willingness to seek help were present, but there are barriers preventing the adolescent boys from acting on that willingness. Conclusions: Lack of knowledge and a non-permissive culture for mental health problems among adolescents contributes to decreased help-seeking behaviour among adolescent boys. The school health service is the most related health service for adolescents and should focus on being available and strengthening empowerment and mental health literacy through the development and implementation of interventions to promote mental health.
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- author
- Helland Lindborg, Tonje ; Kristensson Hallström, Inger LU ; Synnøve Litland, Astrid and Åvik Persson, Helene LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Adolescence, Boys, Empowerment, Experience, Help-seeking, Mental health literacy, Qualitative, School nurse
- in
- BMC Public Health
- volume
- 24
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 1464
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85194991632
- pmid:38822302
- ISSN
- 1471-2458
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12889-024-18952-6
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6fdbd1cb-bbee-457f-9a3e-ea016cc95550
- date added to LUP
- 2024-07-03 11:42:43
- date last changed
- 2024-07-17 14:58:33
@article{6fdbd1cb-bbee-457f-9a3e-ea016cc95550,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Mental health problems among adolescents is a global challenge. During the transition to adolescence, physiological, psychological, and social changes occur, leading to increased vulnerability. Thus, adolescent boys are less likely to seek help for mental health problems, which makes them an undetected group. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of adolescent boys’ experiences of mental health and school health service. Methods: An inductive, qualitative design was chosen using three focus group interviews and three individual interviews. The study included 18 adolescent boys in 7th grade, in a school located in a medium-sized municipality in Norway. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were followed in this study. Results: The overall theme “barriers towards seeking help”, and three categories— navigating stigma and privacy concerns; perceptions of self-responsibility; and lacking knowledge of mental health problems and help-seeking—described the adolescent boys experiences. The awareness and willingness to seek help were present, but there are barriers preventing the adolescent boys from acting on that willingness. Conclusions: Lack of knowledge and a non-permissive culture for mental health problems among adolescents contributes to decreased help-seeking behaviour among adolescent boys. The school health service is the most related health service for adolescents and should focus on being available and strengthening empowerment and mental health literacy through the development and implementation of interventions to promote mental health.</p>}},
author = {{Helland Lindborg, Tonje and Kristensson Hallström, Inger and Synnøve Litland, Astrid and Åvik Persson, Helene}},
issn = {{1471-2458}},
keywords = {{Adolescence; Boys; Empowerment; Experience; Help-seeking; Mental health literacy; Qualitative; School nurse}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Public Health}},
title = {{Adolescent boys’ experiences of mental health and school health services - an interview study from Norway}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18952-6}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12889-024-18952-6}},
volume = {{24}},
year = {{2024}},
}