Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review

<strong>Background<br></strong> A public mental health lens is increasingly required to better understand the complex and multifactorial influences of interpersonal, community and institutional systems on the mental health of children and adolescents. <br><strong> Metho...

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Main Authors: Fazel, M, Soneson, E
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023
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author Fazel, M
Soneson, E
author_facet Fazel, M
Soneson, E
author_sort Fazel, M
collection OXFORD
description <strong>Background<br></strong> A public mental health lens is increasingly required to better understand the complex and multifactorial influences of interpersonal, community and institutional systems on the mental health of children and adolescents. <br><strong> Methods<br></strong> This research review (1) provides an overview of public mental health and proposes a new interactional schema that can guide research and practice, (2) summarises recent evidence on public mental health interventions for children and adolescents, (3) highlights current challenges for this population that might benefit from additional attention and (4) discusses methodological and conceptual hurdles and proposes potential solutions. <br><strong> Results<br></strong> In our evidence review, a broad range of universal, selective and indicated interventions with a variety of targets, mechanisms and settings were identified, some of which (most notably parenting programmes and various school-based interventions) have demonstrated small-to-modest positive effects. Few, however, have achieved sustained mental health improvements. <br><strong> Conclusions<br></strong> There is an opportunity to re-think how public mental health interventions are designed, evaluated and implemented. Deliberate design, encompassing careful consideration of the aims and population-level impacts of interventions, complemented by measurement that embraces complexity through more in-depth characterisation, or ‘phenotyping’, of interpersonal and environmental elements is needed. Opportunities to improve child and adolescent mental health outcomes are gaining unprecedented momentum. Innovative new methodology, heightened public awareness, institutional interest and supportive funding can enable enhanced study of public mental health that does not shy away from complexity.
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spelling oxford-uuid:c32ea30d-e3f9-4d85-be26-a8aa8ade20ac2024-01-16T13:42:25ZCurrent evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research reviewJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:c32ea30d-e3f9-4d85-be26-a8aa8ade20acEnglishSymplectic ElementsWiley2023Fazel, MSoneson, E<strong>Background<br></strong> A public mental health lens is increasingly required to better understand the complex and multifactorial influences of interpersonal, community and institutional systems on the mental health of children and adolescents. <br><strong> Methods<br></strong> This research review (1) provides an overview of public mental health and proposes a new interactional schema that can guide research and practice, (2) summarises recent evidence on public mental health interventions for children and adolescents, (3) highlights current challenges for this population that might benefit from additional attention and (4) discusses methodological and conceptual hurdles and proposes potential solutions. <br><strong> Results<br></strong> In our evidence review, a broad range of universal, selective and indicated interventions with a variety of targets, mechanisms and settings were identified, some of which (most notably parenting programmes and various school-based interventions) have demonstrated small-to-modest positive effects. Few, however, have achieved sustained mental health improvements. <br><strong> Conclusions<br></strong> There is an opportunity to re-think how public mental health interventions are designed, evaluated and implemented. Deliberate design, encompassing careful consideration of the aims and population-level impacts of interventions, complemented by measurement that embraces complexity through more in-depth characterisation, or ‘phenotyping’, of interpersonal and environmental elements is needed. Opportunities to improve child and adolescent mental health outcomes are gaining unprecedented momentum. Innovative new methodology, heightened public awareness, institutional interest and supportive funding can enable enhanced study of public mental health that does not shy away from complexity.
spellingShingle Fazel, M
Soneson, E
Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review
title Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review
title_full Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review
title_fullStr Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review
title_full_unstemmed Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review
title_short Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review
title_sort current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health a research review
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