Adolescence and mental health from the perspective of Primary Healthcare professionals

Abstract

Considering the findings oftudies regarding the vulnerability of adolescents to psychicuffering and the lack of research focusing on this group, this qualitativetudy assesses the provision of psychosocial care to adolescents undergoing psychicuffering from the perspective of Primary Healthcare professionals. Semi-structurednterviews were conducted with 12 professionals. Thematic analysis of thenterview transcriptshowed aumber of weaknessesn adolescents’ access to primary careervices and referrals of cases of psychicuffering topecialistervices. The findingshow that the health professionals recognize themportance of timelyectoral/intersectoral actions. Thetudy advances by reinforcing theeed tomplement adolescent mental health care, which considers the potency of ABS, under the voice of the professionalsnvolved.