Co-designing new solutions to support young people's mental health and wellbeing

Abstract

Working in partnership with young people to co-design new solutions to improve their well-being is fundamental to emerging practice in youth mental health. In Australia, one in four young people experience a mental illness, and most young people do not seek professional assistance (Burgess PM et al, Aust N Z J Psychiatry 43(7):615-623, 2009; Slade J et al, The mental health of Australians 2: Report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being. Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, 2009). To ensure that young people receive quality care, organizations must partner with young people to design and develop relevant services (Burns J, Birrell E, Psychol Res Behav Manage 7:303-312, 2014). Young people's participation ensures that policies, services, and research are suitable and applicable, as directed and informed by young people. Youth participation is "a process where young people, as active citizens, take part in, express views on, and have decision making power about issues that affect them" (Farthing R, Youth Policy 109:71-97, 2012). When correctly implemented, youth participation is meaningful, input from young people is used to direct the activity of the organization, and their views are considered equally with organizational stakeholders. Collaboration and drawing on the perspectives, insights and expertise of a range of stakeholders are at the center of the approach of the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre and its partners (Hagen P et al, Participatory design of evidence- based online youth mental health promotion, intervention and treatment. Young and Well CRC, Melbourne, 2012).