Mental health needs of adolescents and the nursing cares: Integrative review

Abstract

Objective: to systematize the knowledge produced about nursing performance in the face of adolescents’ mental health needs. Method: integrative literature review, submitting the problem: what are the mental health needs of adolescents and the nursing care provided? Data collection was performed in the PubMed databases; CINAHL; SciELO; ScienceDirect; LILACS, in the month of April 2018. Were inclused 30 articles available in Portuguese, English or Spanish, with full access and free of charge. The findings were grouped into thematic categories with review/synthesis of knowledge. Results: The sample consisted of articles predominantly in English and published between 1999 and 2018. The main mental health needs of adolescents are related to depression, anxiety, stress, drug use and dependence, eating disorders, among others. Nursing cares include health education, groups, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal relationships, and activities that involve adolescents, their families, peers and the school environment. It was evidenced that nurses work with different approaches and intervene through the nursing process and physical activity practices, among other tools that are accessible to them. Conclusion: this review allows professionals to formulate new actions that are based on the adolescent’s real mental health needs, which are neglected, because they do not attend so much the health services. The need for studies with higher level of scientific evidence is mentioned.