Young People’s Sense of Agency and Responsibility towards Mental Health in Brazil: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background: Young people have the potential to be effective agents within their communities, and can play a critical role in promoting their peers’ mental health and well-being. But do young people feel a sense of agency and responsibility towards promoting their peers’ mental health and well-being? This co-produced study mapped how Brazilian young people perceived their role in promoting their peers’ mental health and well-being, as well as perceived barriers to their engagement. Methods: Participants were 46 Brazilian adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years old, recruited primarily via social media. Data were collected via focus groups and individual interviews conducted by a youth collaborator and a senior researcher. Anonymised transcripts were analysed through a reflexive thematic analysis that generated four themes. Results: Two themes report on young people’s sense of agency and responsibility and the strategies they use to promote their peers’ mental health and well-being. Most participants felt motivated to promote mental health and many seemed very committed to providing such support; yet, others felt it was a burden or did not think it was their duty. Examples of strategies included peer-to-peer support such as listening to each other without judgement, but also collective actions such as organising support groups in the school. The other two themes report on contextual and intrapersonal issues that can impair young people’s potential to support their peers’ mental health and well-being, and included: feeling unheard or not trusted by adults, fearing judgement due to mental health stigma, and lacking skills and self-efficacy. Conclusions: These results help advance our understanding of adolescents’ potential for taking action to promote mental health and well-being. However, their potential will not be realised unless identified barriers are addressed, for instance by providing young people with peer support training, and tackling adultism and mental health stigma.