Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study
Abstract Background Mental health problems among young people is a worldwide public health concern. There has been an increase in mental health problems among young people in the Nordic countries in the last 25 years, particularly in Sweden. Despite this increase, international research has repeated...
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doaj-2f36270807a94394b656d903335556912020-11-25T03:42:10ZengBMCArchives of Public Health2049-32582020-10-0178111110.1186/s13690-020-00471-6Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory studyKatrin Häggström Westberg0Jens M. Nygren1Maria Nyholm2Ing-Marie Carlsson3Petra Svedberg4School of Health and Welfare, University of HalmstadSchool of Health and Welfare, University of HalmstadSchool of Health and Welfare, University of HalmstadSchool of Health and Welfare, University of HalmstadSchool of Health and Welfare, University of HalmstadAbstract Background Mental health problems among young people is a worldwide public health concern. There has been an increase in mental health problems among young people in the Nordic countries in the last 25 years, particularly in Sweden. Despite this increase, international research has repeatedly shown that young people do not access or receive support when encountering mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of help-seeking for professional support among young people with mental health problems. Methods The study used qualitative constructivist Grounded Theory and open-ended interviews. Thirteen young people between 15 and 23, recruited from two local support clinics, were interviewed. Results Lost in space emerged as the core category, capturing aspects of both the experience of self and mental health problems as well as the process of seeking and acquiring help from professional support systems. The study identified several prominent barriers for seeking and acquiring professional help for mental health problems. The young people expressed a lack of knowledge on mental health issues and support services and substantial efforts were made to try to cope with problems on one’s own. Lost in space involved Drifting - trying to make sense of own experiences and struggling to cope with problems, Navigating - searching for help through multiple attempts and contacts and Docking - finding support with something/somebody that feels right. Conclusions The theoretical model sheds light on how young people with mental health problems were met with fragmented support services. Society needs to provide encompassing, youth-friendly and flexible support services, so that attempts at help-seeking are not missed.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13690-020-00471-6SwedenMental healthYoung peopleHelp-seekingSupport servicesGrounded theory |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Katrin Häggström Westberg Jens M. Nygren Maria Nyholm Ing-Marie Carlsson Petra Svedberg |
spellingShingle |
Katrin Häggström Westberg Jens M. Nygren Maria Nyholm Ing-Marie Carlsson Petra Svedberg Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study Archives of Public Health Sweden Mental health Young people Help-seeking Support services Grounded theory |
author_facet |
Katrin Häggström Westberg Jens M. Nygren Maria Nyholm Ing-Marie Carlsson Petra Svedberg |
author_sort |
Katrin Häggström Westberg |
title |
Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study |
title_short |
Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study |
title_full |
Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study |
title_fullStr |
Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study |
title_sort |
lost in space - an exploration of help-seeking among young people with mental health problems: a constructivist grounded theory study |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Archives of Public Health |
issn |
2049-3258 |
publishDate |
2020-10-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Mental health problems among young people is a worldwide public health concern. There has been an increase in mental health problems among young people in the Nordic countries in the last 25 years, particularly in Sweden. Despite this increase, international research has repeatedly shown that young people do not access or receive support when encountering mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of help-seeking for professional support among young people with mental health problems. Methods The study used qualitative constructivist Grounded Theory and open-ended interviews. Thirteen young people between 15 and 23, recruited from two local support clinics, were interviewed. Results Lost in space emerged as the core category, capturing aspects of both the experience of self and mental health problems as well as the process of seeking and acquiring help from professional support systems. The study identified several prominent barriers for seeking and acquiring professional help for mental health problems. The young people expressed a lack of knowledge on mental health issues and support services and substantial efforts were made to try to cope with problems on one’s own. Lost in space involved Drifting - trying to make sense of own experiences and struggling to cope with problems, Navigating - searching for help through multiple attempts and contacts and Docking - finding support with something/somebody that feels right. Conclusions The theoretical model sheds light on how young people with mental health problems were met with fragmented support services. Society needs to provide encompassing, youth-friendly and flexible support services, so that attempts at help-seeking are not missed. |
topic |
Sweden Mental health Young people Help-seeking Support services Grounded theory |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13690-020-00471-6 |
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