Lots of young people are struggling with their mental health, and support services are very busy, meaning not everyone gets the help they deserve. When a young person first reaches out, the professional, usually their GP, has to decide what support to offer, but everyone is different so it can be hard to know what is best for each individual. Involving the young person and their preferenes in these decisions leads to better outcomes, but there is currently no reliable way to help the doctor do this properly.
To address this, we will run an online survey with around 350 young people across the UK, asking about areas of life that affect their mental wellbeing, things GPs should consider in decisions, and how they would feel most comfortable sharing their preferences. The survey takes under 15 minutes, is anonymous, and ethically approved by the University of Cambridge, with all data collected and stored following government policies.
NIHR networks will be used to send invitations to participate, helping us hear from people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Children aged 11–15 will be recruited through the DNA, Children and Young People's Health Resource, while 16–17 year olds will be recruited through the Research Tissue Bank and the Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression cohort.
Our findings will allow us to design a tool to help GPs decide what support might be best for each child. By putting the young person’s views at the centre, we hope they will feel listened to and confident that the support they receive is right for them, rather than dismissed or losing faith in the system. Getting it right first time could also reduce waiting times and pressure on services, so getting help with your mental health feels genuinely like help and not a battle.
