Chaplin Ava, McGuinness Liza, Gadermann Anne, Poon Brenda T, Jenkins Emily K
School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Wellstream: The Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use, University of British Columbia, T304-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2B5, Canada.
Health Promot Int. 2025 Jul 1;40(4). doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaf127.
The mental health of youth aged 15-25 is a growing public health concern worldwide, signalling the need for expanded and innovative responses. Approaches to addressing this issue have prioritized treatment and recovery at the individual level, with limited attention to the broader contexts that shape mental health and illness. This study sought to explore youths' perspectives on positive mental health and its determinants. Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of youth aged 15-25 (n = 35) from British Columbia, Canada, data underwent thematic analysis guided by a socio-ecological mental health promotion (MHP) framework. Analysis yielded three interconnected themes: (i) perspectives shaped by broader social discourses, (ii) cultivating belonging, and (iii) creating meaning. Participants articulated varying perspectives regarding factors that shape mental health, some of which were grounded in notions of individual responsibility, while others encompassed a wider range of social and political influences. Participants also identified several key contributors to positive mental health, including peer connections that encourage trust, reciprocity, and growth; supportive familial relationships that provide a foundation for wellbeing; access to safe and affirming community spaces for intellectual or creative expression; and engagement in volunteerism or advocacy to establish a sense of purpose and meaning. These findings offer new insights that can extend current responses to youth mental health, including evidence to inform MHP efforts to build and strengthen positive mental health and wellbeing. Findings have the potential to guide policies and programming to enhance wellbeing among youth across the life course.
15至25岁青少年的心理健康是全球日益受到关注的公共卫生问题，这表明需要采取更广泛、更具创新性的应对措施。解决这一问题的方法主要侧重于个体层面的治疗和康复，而对塑造心理健康和疾病的更广泛背景关注有限。本研究旨在探讨青少年对积极心理健康及其决定因素的看法。通过对来自加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省的35名15至25岁青少年进行深入的半结构化访谈收集数据，并在社会生态心理健康促进（MHP）框架的指导下进行主题分析。分析得出三个相互关联的主题：（i）受更广泛社会话语影响的观点；（ii）培养归属感；（iii）创造意义。参与者阐述了关于塑造心理健康的因素的不同观点，其中一些基于个人责任的观念，而另一些则涵盖了更广泛的社会和政治影响。参与者还确定了积极心理健康的几个关键因素，包括鼓励信任、互惠和成长的同伴关系；为幸福奠定基础的支持性家庭关系；获得安全且能给予肯定的社区空间用于智力或创造性表达；以及参与志愿服务或倡导活动以确立目标感和意义感。这些发现提供了新的见解，可扩展当前对青少年心理健康的应对措施，包括为MHP努力建立和加强积极心理健康与幸福提供参考依据。研究结果有可能指导政策制定和项目规划，以增进青少年一生的幸福。
