Young people are eager to be involved in the design of programs which address their primary health concerns, new research has found.
While a qualitative survey of adolescents and young adults aged between 18 and 24 by Adelaide University researchers from the School of Public Health found mental health and vaping were key health concerns, they felt their skills weren’t being utilised to address the issues.
"We know the youth of Australia are reporting high levels of psychological distress and loneliness, so we wanted to understand further the health priorities of a group of young people, which would then allow us to co-design interventions to address their most pressing needs first," said joint first authors and PhD candidates Patience Castleton and Zahra Ali Padhani.
"In young people, mental health – from anxiety and bullying to eating disorders - was a major concern, and key barriers to health and wellbeing included limited awareness of the risks associated with vaping and eating disorders, peer pressure to vape, financial strain and cost-of-living pressures that restrict access to services and healthier lifestyle choices.
"The participants highlighted education and awareness as key interventions, as well as free accessible support services, both underscoring a need for structural change including at a policy level."
Padhani said the participants felt the inclusion of people with lived experience in any co-designing space was important.
"We found the participants had plenty to share and would be willing to use their skills as such, but there weren't many opportunities," said Padhani.
"Co-designing with young adults ensures that messaging, delivery methods and priorities align with their lived experiences, preferences and communication styles.
"This collaborative approach can enhance the relatability of health messages, thus increasing the likelihood that they will be understood, accepted and acted upon by young people."
Senior author Associate Professor Zohra Lassi said the study amplified the voices of young people within South Australia.
"It reveals a pressing need to address mental health challenges, the rising prevalence of vaping, deeply influenced by social norms and media campaigns, lack of knowledge, peer pressure, financial constraints and systematic barriers to care," she said.
"Despite their willingness and enthusiasm to engage, young people in this study expressed that they face limited opportunities to shape the health interventions meant for them.
"Effective and sustainable solutions must not only align with the lives and realities of young adults but also actively involve them in the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes and policies.
"We call on governments, health systems, researchers, policy makers and educational institutions to prioritise early, school-based interventions, ensure universal access to affordable and youth-friendly mental health and substance use services, and implement structural policies that mitigate the rising cost of living and its adverse effects on health."