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Participation in authentic research in the field and online through Community and Citizen Science (CCS) has shown to bring learning benefits to volunteers. In online CCS, available platforms present distinct features, ranging from scaffolding the process of data collection, to supporting data analysis and enabling volunteers to initiate their own studies. What is yet not well understood is how best to design CCS programmes that are educational, inclusive, and accessible by diverse volunteers, including young people and those with limited prior science experiences who are rather few in CCS. In this study, we interviewed 31 young people, aged 7-20 years old, who used iNaturalist, an online biodiversity monitoring platform, and identified how different forms of participation online and in the field facilitated (or inhibited) certain forms of learning, as defined by the Environmental Science Agency framework. Findings revealed that iNaturalist enabled participation of young people including those with limited science experiences and facilitated science learning such as the development of science competence and understanding. A blended learning framework for biodiversity monitoring in CCS is presented as a means to support the development of hybrid, educational, and inclusive CCS programmes for young people.

There is emerging evidence of the detrimental impact of the pandemic and associated restrictions on young people's mental health in the UK, but to date, these data have been largely quantitative. The aim of the current study was to gain a deeper understanding of young people's experiences in relation to their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. Seventeen young people, aged 11 to 16 years, sampled for diverse characteristics, and living in the UK, were interviewed virtually between December 2020 and February 2021. Reflexive thematic analysis was carried out by the research team, which included two young people, and five themes were developed: (1) positives; (2) worries and anxiety; (3) sadness and anger about losses; (4) mental exhaustion; and (5) support from others. Aspects of young people's individual circumstances (e.g., pre-existing mental health difficulties, special educational needs, and neurodevelopmental disorders) appeared to play a role in their experiences. Continued measurement of young people's mental health, initiatives to identify young people who have been struggling, and the provision of support (including evidence-based and accessible interventions) will be important for protecting young people from future adversities as we emerge from the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self‐harm in children and young people is increasing. Parents are vital in supporting young people; however, parents may experience distress linked to the self‐harm. Previous reviews have highlighted the emotional impact and need for information and support, however, have not elucidated the relationships between these themes, nor examined the quantitative data examining parents' well‐being. Methods: We conducted a mixed methods review, with qualitative meta‐synthesis focusing on links between themes and quantitative synthesis of parental well‐being findings, including pooled means. PsycInfo, Medline, EMBASE, AMED, CINHAL and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant records. References of included studies were also searched. Every abstract was screened by two authors. Data were extracted by one author and checked by another. Results: We identified 39 reports of 32 studies: 16 with qualitative data and 17 with quantitative data (one had both). Qualitative findings showed how parents' emotions were associated to their knowledge and beliefs about self‐harm. Parents' emotions often evidenced the need to self‐care, but emotions of guilt reduced engagement in self‐care. How parents supported their young person was linked to their knowledge, and the management of their own emotions, and influenced if they could engage in self‐care. Quantitative findings were mixed, however suggested poor general mental health amongst these parents. Conclusions: Further good quality quantitative studies are needed, with measurement of psychological mechanisms that may underpin parental distress. Current evidence supports peer‐support and interventions that go beyond information provision to address the connected factors of knowledge, emotion, self‐care, and parenting behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a distressing mental illness that is overrepresented in adolescents and youth and which was previously thought difficult to treat. Families and carers of those with BPD can also experience high levels of distress and burden and can struggle in their support of those with BPD. The Families and Carers Training and Support (FACTS) program is an innovative skills and education program for family members and carers of someone with BPD informed by mentalisation‐based treatment (MBT) principles. To address a gap in the research, the present study aimed to see what effect, if any, a carer‐focused intervention has on the young people with BPD themselves. To assess this, interviews were conducted with eight young people whose family members participated in the program. Overall, the young people felt there had been positive changes during and after their family members' participation in the program. They felt the communication with their family members improved; they also felt more understood and that they had more space and freedom in the home and that the tension in the household decreased. Additionally, several young people felt they would have liked to be more involved in the process and to take part in the program alongside their family members. The findings indicate that interventions focusing on building understanding and self‐awareness in carers of those BPD can be important in ameliorating the challenging impact of BPD on young people and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of social infrastructure has experienced a rapid rise to prominence in recent years, both in academia and in policy. In this article, we explore a case study of cages (also known as Multi‐Use Games Areas) in Hackney, North‐East London. We argue that cages are forms of urban infrastructure which can facilitate multiple forms of sociality—especially for young people—and can thus be deemed valuable social infrastructure. However, this value can only be understood in context—in relation to the joys and harms of growing up in Hackney—and as in contest—the status and meaning of the cage is different for different groups, and there are considerable tensions over their use, ownership, and management. In our examination of the cage, we aim to explore and build upon existing conceptions of social infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet offers help-seekers an abundance of resources that can potentially support their mental health. However, people often have trouble in finding personally relevant resources. Very few specialized mental health help-seeking technologies currently address this need. Instead, help-seeking typically begins with a known website or web-search. To understand how help-seeking technologies could be better designed, we conducted a study comparing existing technologies with two novel help-seeking prototypes. These prototypes were informed by empirically grounded design recommendations, which emphasize the need for connectedness, accessible and creditable information, personalization, and immediacy. Findings show that the resources recommended by current technologies are often experienced as 'overwhelming' or 'overly-medicalized'. The prototypes successfully improved connectedness, immediacy, and personalization, but were less successful in their ability to support symptom-based help-seeking. Based on our findings we contribute recommendations for integrated help-seeking technologies, which can guide people to mental health resources appropriate to both their personal preferences and current level of need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how members of party youth wings perceive their respective youth wings and identifies areas they believe require improvement. Empirically, the study surveys the youth wings of eight Swedish political parties, exploring members' experiences using open-ended questions. The findings confirm that political and social aspects hold greater importance for youth wing members compared to material benefits. Additionally, the analysis reveals how members view the youth wing as a transformative community fostering personal growth, self-exploration and the development of values. Notably, the youth wing is seen as a community unified by shared values, with a collective vision for the world and a focus on collaborative efforts to realize that vision. Challenges include expectations set by the mother party, such as campaigning and career aspirations, and negative perceptions of the competitive political landscape, citing conflicts and factionalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores young people's emotional associations with activism in relation to their social identity, sense of agency and activist participation. Focusing on three activist topics—climate change, anti-racism, feminism and LGBTQ rights—the objective is to analyse emotional nuances both within and across these. Building on sociopolitical development theory, emotions affect the sense of (in)justice and participation in activism and are also central to how young people view their own agency. The focus group research in the United Kingdom showed that different emotional associations drove motivation for political action and that social identity influenced interest in and experiences with activism. While activism represented the self-actualization of values, identity-rights activism came with the added burden of pressure and personal risks for some. The findings highlight the complexity of emotions motivating activism, the significance of identity and values for finding belonging, and the intersectional dimension of one's sense of agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a situation in which civic and political engagement worked for young Algerians as a pathway to employment, attempting to understand why they used this method. A functional analysis inspired by psychological studies on volunteering was applied to analyse 17 interviews conducted with young people who expressed the motivation for employment in the context of engagement with political parties and associations. The results show that engagement with these organizations was a way of strengthening human, social and cultural capital that reflects young people's agency to cope in a context where access to employment requires the ability to navigate through different paths. On the other hand, some inclusive roles of political parties and associations in terms of offering young people socio-professional integration and social development were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people living with HIV (YPLWH) face the burden of navigating the unique physical, psychological, and social challenges of adolescence while coping with a stigmatized infectious disease that requires lifelong care. Consequently, YPLWH experience worse HIV outcomes compared to children and adults. This systematic review seeks to collate evidence on the health and economic impact of HIV interventions targeting YPLWH and to identify gaps in the available evidence that may inform future economic evaluations of interventions for YPLWH. We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Global Index Medicus databases for peer-reviewed articles published through April 24, 2022 (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022356244). Our inclusion criteria encompassed economic evaluations of HIV interventions that report health and economic outcomes among individuals ages 10–24 years. Three investigators screened articles at the title, abstract, and full-text levels. The data were extracted in accordance with the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022. Of the 3,735 unique articles retrieved through our search, 32 met our inclusion criteria. Of these 32 articles, 8 (25%) evaluated a behavioral, educational, or financial intervention, 6 (19%) voluntary medical male circumcision, 5 (16%) HIV screening or testing, 4 (13%) pre-exposure prophylaxis, 3 (9%) a hypothetical HIV vaccine, 2 (6%) antiretroviral therapy, 1 (3%) condom distribution, and 3 (9%) a combination of interventions. Twenty-two studies (69%) focused on Africa, 9 (28%) on North America, and 1 (3%) on Europe. Thirty studies (94%) were cost-effectiveness analyses and 2 (6%) were cost-utility analyses. Of the intervention types captured by this review, most were deemed cost-saving or cost-effective. Only two studies—one evaluating a financial intervention and one evaluating HIV testing—concluded that the intervention was not cost-effective. Evidence presented by this review suggests that investments in HIV prevention and treatment for young people can be a cost-effective, and sometimes cost-saving, solution to combating the global HIV epidemic. However, additional evaluations of HIV interventions targeting young people, which adhere to standardized reporting practices, are needed to permit comparability of cost-effectiveness outcomes between interventions and settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scottish Government education policies, such as the Curriculum for Excellence, rely on statements about 'inclusion', social justice, fairness, and equality for children and young people. However, these values do not apply to all children and young people, particularly non-White students from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, many of whom feel they are treated as racialised outsiders. This paper has emerged from my doctoral research (2016) and takes the opportunity to further explore the educational experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Muslim youth as they prepare to exit compulsory education. In the original study, 17 participants were identified by their schools and agencies as needing support to transition out of compulsory education due to a higher propensity to fall out of education, employment, or training (More Choices, More Chances, 2006), with 14 meeting the criteria of visible ethnic minorities. Eleven of the participants were also of the Muslim faith. This paper focuses on the findings of the 11 Muslim BME young people from the original study, and their responses to the first research question. The research question asked them about their experiences with compulsory education. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews in pairs or small groups of three. Through direct content analysis, three themes emerged: 1. Relationships between young people and their White Scottish peers were weak to non-existent. 2. Relationships between young people and their White Scottish teachers were weak. 3. The young people's sense of (not) belonging and trust in their schools was strong. Six of the eleven study participants did not feel included in the school environment or treated as equals with their peers. They faced instances of racial discrimination by their teachers. Of the remaining five participants, two were troubled and had to be constantly reassured that the interviews were conducted for research purposes only. They were not required to participate and had the choice of physically leaving the session or contacting the researcher to have their contributions removed from the study. Three of the five participants did not cite unfair treatment; however, they did not seem to recognise or want to acknowledge that episodes of miscommunication and differential treatment shared with the researcher constituted discrimination. The study argues that policy language needs to be specific to address equality and inclusion in the school environment if outcomes are to be improved, particularly when it comes to the experiences of ethnic (and religious) minority students in school in Glasgow, Scotland. The young people feel they do not belong, are tolerated, and do not receive the same courtesy as their White Scottish peers. This paper highlights how racism can play out in education, disenfranchising young people. The paper recommends that policy and practise be aligned to ensure that all students are treated equally. This requires alignment of policy and practice, with strong leadership in schools who focus on racial, social justice, and fairness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The study aimed to assess the perception of a higher risk of COVID-19 infection among young people who used e-cigarettes, and its association with a change in the use of e-cigarettes during the pandemic in Nigeria. A secondary analysis of the Nigerian component of a multi-country online survey data, which was obtained from adolescents and young adults on e-cigarette use from November 1st to December 30th, 2021, was conducted. Multi-nominal regression analyses were done to determine the associations between the dependent (use of e-cigarettes) and independent (perception that e-cigarette users are more likely to be infected with COVID-19) variables after adjusting for confounders (health status, COVID-19 status, HIV status, anxiety level, age and sex). Of the 568 respondents (52.8% male), 122 (21.5%) perceived that e-cigarette users were more likely to be infected with COVID-19. In addition, 188 (33.1%) respondents increased e-cigarette smoking during the pandemic. A greater percentage of participants who perceived that e-cigarette use is associated with a greater risk of COVID-19 infection, and a significantly higher percentage of participants with high levels of anxiety reported decreased e-cigarette use (28.6% versus 13.3%, p = 0.029). The perception that e-cigarette use increased the risk for COVID-19 was associated with higher odds of an increase in e-cigarette use (AOR: 1.328) and lower odds of a decrease in e-cigarette use (AOR: 0.580) during the COVID-19 pandemic, though these associations were not statistically significant. The persistence of e-cigarette use among the youth in Nigeria despite awareness of COVID-19 risks highlights the need for stronger public health interventions. Simply providing information on risks is insufficient; targeted strategies addressing addiction, social factors, and accessibility are crucial for meaningful behavioural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a multilevel analysis of unpaid overtime among young people (aged 15–34) across EU-28 member states. It finds that non-standard employment and the specific characteristics and institutions of Europe’s labour markets are related to unpaid overtime. Use has been made of the European Union Labour Force Survey database for 2019. The econometric analysis shows that a national level and a greater scope of collective bargaining agreements, a higher rate of involuntary part-time employment and lower levels of unemployment expenditure increase the probability of unpaid overtime among young people. Furthermore, our results reveal that how flexibility is boosted in European countries drives unpaid overtime. Temporary employment, working from home and a higher number of hours worked are positively related to unpaid overtime, while part-time employment and temporary work agencies are negatively related. Finally, the older and higher educated young workers have a greater propensity towards unpaid overtime, while there is a negative effect of shift work and no significant one in terms of gender and the degree of protection against dismissal. Policy implications for the implementation of flexibility policies and working time regulations are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion This research explored the views of staff in secondary schools on school counselling for young people. Data were drawn from the Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness Trial of Humanistic Counselling in Schools (ETHOS) study, an RCT of school counselling across 18 state‐funded secondary schools in London.Qualitative semi‐structured interviews were held with school staff (n = 16) from a sub‐sample of 10 participating schools from the RCT. The interviews explored the perceived impact of school counselling on the school and students. Thematic analysis was conducted using the NVivo qualitative data analysis software.Three key themes were identified: (1) school context: rising mental health need and varying provision for mental health; (2) school staff perspectives on the impact of counselling: increased openness and improvements in mood, dedicated space to open up, putting skills into practice, one size does not fit all, and role of personal connection; and (3) long‐term impact of counselling in schools: integration as central to success and counselling as a stepping stone for further support.This research provides insights into school staff views of secondary school counselling in the context of delivery through a research trial. Effective ways of integrating counselling services into schools are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article draws on narrative interviews with 16 young queer people who are involved in organizing meeting places and activities for and with other queers. Here, I explore how queer youth describe their needs and motives for engaging in organizing, and how narratives of agency and vulnerability are expressed and intertwined. Drawing on Judith Butler (2016. ‘Rethinking vulnerability and resistance’, in J. Butler, Z. Gambetti, and L. Sabsay (Ed.), Vulnerability in Resistance. Duke University Press), I argue that vulnerability among LGBTQ + youth is not the opposite of resistance and that agency is not the opposite of exposedness. In this context, LGBTQ + youth’s own acknowledgement of and collective resistance to dominant sexuality and gender norms, which put them at risk for exclusion, offence and violence, constitute a mobilization of vulnerability. The motives for organizing are described as three narratives concerning social needs and how queer youth relate themselves to a collective. The first narrative recognizes the person’s need for other people, the second other people’s need for them, and the third concerns the need for a community. The results show how queer youth use collective agency to create their own spaces and communities as well as to formulate and practice resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The key objective of our study was to describe the population-average trajectories of wellbeing, spanning the period of 2017–2022, comparing young people with other age groups. Moreover, we aimed to identify subgroups of young people who experienced disproportionate changes in wellbeing. Methods: We used longitudinal data from six waves (2017–2022) of the Swiss Household Panel. Participants were at least 14 years old in 2017 and had at least one valid composite measure of wellbeing between 2017 and 2022 (n individuals = 11,224; n observations = 49,032). The data were typically collected with telephone or web interviewing. The age of participants ranged from 14 to 102, with a roughly equal distribution of men (51.1%) and women (48.9%). We conceptualized wellbeing as positive affect and life satisfaction, negative affect, stress and psychosomatic symptoms. We described the trajectories of wellbeing using piecewise growth curve analysis. We included sociodemographic characteristics to further describe wellbeing trajectories across subgroups of young people. These comprised (1) gender, (2) migration status, (3) partnership status, (4) living with parents, (5) education/employment status, (6) household income. Results: Young people (age 14–25) experienced a steady decline in positive affect and life satisfaction throughout the entire period, with the greatest change occurring before the pandemic (2017–2019). The trajectories in this outcome were largely stable in other age groups. Moreover, young individuals showed a more pronounced increase in negative affect, particularly in the pre-pandemic years, compared to older groups. Negative affect increased during the pandemic, followed by a subsequent decline post-pandemic, observed similarly across all age groups. Among young people specifically, the trajectory of stress was similar to the one of negative affect. However, issues such as sleep problems, weakness, weariness, and headaches continued to increase in this population from 2017 to 2022. We also found evidence for a greater increase in negative affect during the pandemic in young women and those not in employment or education. Conclusions: Given the fact that the decline in young people's wellbeing in Switzerland started two years before the pandemic, our study emphasises the importance of consideing their wellbeing within a broader systemic context beyond pandemic-related changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteral tube feeding is commonly used for children and young people with complex health and care needs. Blended diets are becoming more widely used and there is increasing evidence to show the benefits of a blended diet for children, young people and their families. This article aims to collate recent evidence on blended diets and describe the implications for nursing practice. Studies exploring blended diets have identified benefits such as improved gastrointestinal symptoms, positive engagement with families around food and mealtimes and the normalisation of enteral tube feeding. Research has also explored the nutritional and microbial content of food blends as well as the viscosity and risk of tube blockage. These are key considerations when supporting families to make informed decisions and use blended diets safely. Nurses play an important role in supporting the safe and effective use of blended diets as part of a wider multidisciplinary team. It is necessary that they have an understanding of the evidence underpinning nursing practice in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent physical activity levels are low and are shown to decline with age into adulthood. Emerging literature suggests these trends were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic. We aimed to understand, from the perspective of adolescents living in deprived communities, whether the Covid-19 pandemic influenced their physical behaviour and explore their ideas for physical activity promotion moving forward. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit older adolescents (13-18-year-old) living in one of the 20% most deprived areas in the UK, as defined by the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation. A mix of in-person and online one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted between July 2021- March 2022. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and anonymised. Data were imported into Nvivo software and analysed drawing on Braun and Clarke's six phases of thematic analysis. Results: The sample consisted of 16 adolescents and included a mix of genders. The following themes were generated during the data analysis: (1) Physical activity behaviour in everyday life (prepandemic), (2) The impact of Covid-19 on physical activity (during) and (3) Young people's ideas about physical activity promotion (moving forward). Participants described themselves as inactive, with their activity limited to active travel, informal activity and physical education. Experiences of the pandemic were largely negative, impacting participants' physical and mental health. Ideas around physical activity promotion ranged from the individual to the societal level. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on young people living in the context of socioeconomic deprivation. Physical activity promotion efforts should focus on school-based opportunities and the provision of safe and low-cost opportunities in socioeconomically deprived areas. As we aim to build back from the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting young people living in socioeconomically deprived communities should be prioritised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apprenticeship enrollment in Ghana is declining according to recent rounds of the Ghana Living Standards Survey, despite its importance as an avenue for human capital development among young people. This trend is alarming, especially during an era of economic crises and constraints in technical and vocational education. The paper utilizes qualitative approaches involving interviews with key stakeholders such as master craftspeople and apprentices, apprenticeship experts, and secondary data to explore the reasons behind the decline in apprenticeships. The findings reveal that young people’s desire for quick financial gains and lack of interest in apprenticeships, along with structural factors, contribute to the decline. The paper concludes by offering a nuanced critique of the human capital theory’s application to the declining apprenticeship trends in Ghana, underscoring the need for a more comprehensive framework that incorporates social, cultural and environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghanaians with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection now live into adulthood. It is known that adolescents and young adults living with HIV have a high risk of mental health comorbidity. Despite increasing global attention on HIV–mental health interactions, the field remains understudied in Ghana, with an attendant lack of national integrated care solutions. This study aimed to measure the burden and explore the context of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms among young people living with HIV receiving care at a tertiary care hospital in Ghana. This was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study. Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and their associations with quality of life (QoL), socioeconomic status, internalised stigma, disease stage and HIV-related risk-taking behaviours were explored. After preliminary quantitative data analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted for those who screened positive for depression and/or anxiety to explore their experience with this comorbidity. This study found a low prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms, which were associated with higher stigma scores and lower QoL. We believe this low prevalence to be attributable to the effect of several psychosocial interventional programmes, which were previously piloted with the study cohort that have gradually normalised mental health discussions. Participants also showed marked resilience and knowledge about their condition. The results of this study present an opportunity to advocate and scale up effective locally adapted and strength-based solutions to address the mental illness–HIV syndemic in Ghanaian young people living with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mental health of college students has been a significant concern in higher education, representing a priority for the institutions. Enhancing effective online interventions could represent excellent support for university counseling services that deal with students' well-being. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two online interventions provided by the Counseling and Consultation Service for Students (SACS) of the University of L'Aquila (Italy), namely Videochat with Clinical Mental Health consultation (VCMH) and Therapist-supported Internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TsiCBT), a 12-module asynchronous program for anxiety management. The primary outcome was focused on the emotional well-being of students (GHQ-12). The secondary academic outcome was represented by the attainment of their final degree. Methods: Students requesting help from the SACS between March 2020 and March 2022 during different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were asked to fill out a brief structured screening tool and access the PSYDIT.COM platform. Based on their personal preferences, students chose to access one of the two different online interventions: VCMH and Ts-iCBT. Results: Over the two-year duration of this study, 379 students (267 women, 70.4%) contacted the service. Out of 334 students, 72.5% asked to be included in the Ts-iCBT group, whereas 27.5% expressed a preference for the VCMH group. A statistically significant decrease in emotional distress was obtained by both forms of online intervention, highlighting a better outcome for VCMH. In addition to clinical variables, 28.8% of students who completed online interventions attained their degree, with a statistically significantly higher percentage of graduated students in the Ts-iCBT compared to VCMH group. A high proportion of students (37.7% of total sample) dropped out (DO) of digital interventions, with a statistically significant lower rate of dropouts in the VCMH group. Conclusions: The effectiveness of online interventions is extremely promising and yields a growing source of suggestions for use in providing more tailored interventions. Videochats and frequent therapist online contacts would be recommended for more severe psychopathological conditions. Students in conditions of moderate and non-severe emotional distress who feel more able to "manage the problem alone" could be addressed to asynchronous online interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite suicide's public health significance and global mental health awareness, current suicide prevention efforts show limited impact, posing a challenge for low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to develop a dynamic simulation model that could be used to examine the potential effectiveness of alternative interventions for reducing youth mental health problems and suicidal behavior in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods: A system dynamics model was designed using a participatory approach involving three workshops conducted in 2021 and 2022. These workshops engaged 78 stakeholders from various health and social sectors to map key mental health outcomes and influential factors affecting them. A model was subsequently developed, tested, and presented to the participants for interactive feedback, guided by a moderator. Simulation analyses were conducted to compare projected mental health outcomes for a range of intervention scenarios with projections for a reference scenario corresponding to business-as-usual. Results: A total of 6670 suicide attempts and 347 suicides are projected among 7 − 17-year-olds from January 1, 2023, to early 2031 under the business-as-usual scenario. Mental health issues among 12 − 17-year-olds are projected to increase from 18.9% (2023) to 27.8% (2031), and substance use issues from 2.29 to 2.49% over the same period. School-based suicide prevention and gatekeeper training are the most effective strategies, reducing total numbers of suicide attempts and suicides by more than 20% (i.e., compared to business-as-usual). However, discontinuous funding significantly hinders these effective suicide prevention efforts. Conclusions: Systems modelling is an important tool for understanding where the best strategic financial and political investments lie for improving youth mental health in resource-constrained settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore how youth with visual impairments perceive the usefulness of the Y-PEM (Youth and Young-adult Participation and Environment Measure) in capturing their participation and how information generated contributes to their understanding of participation experiences. Materials and methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed among 11 youth with visual impairment (3 females, 8 males) aged 17–24 (x¯ = 21, SD = 2.6) involving two remote sessions one week apart. First, the Y-PEM and QQ-10 questionnaire were administered to evaluate Y-PEM's utility (value and burden), analyzed descriptively. Then, youth reflected on their Y-PEM results via an individual semi-structured Stimulated Recall Interview (SRI), analyzed thematically. Results: A mean value-score of 77% (SD = 10.4) and burden-score of 19% (SD = 5.6) on the QQ-10 indicated the Y-PEM was perceived as valuable with relatively low burden. Three themes emerged from the interviews. Insights on participation revealed increased awareness of participation patterns and environmental factors. This led to a reflection on personal attributes about levels of comfort and familiarity, efforts required to participate, and personal preferences influencing participation experiences. Finally, approaches to participation elucidated strategies used in decision-making processes about pursuing participation. Conclusion: Findings suggest the Y-PEM is useful in capturing and promoting reflection of youth's participation patterns and environmental supports/barriers. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The Y-PEM PEM (Youth and Young-adult Participation and Environment Measure) appears to provide a meaningful way for youth with visual impairments to understand their participation patterns and experiences Discussing youth's results of the Y-PEM with them can lead to new insights and reflections about their participation preferences, environmental barriers and supports, and other influential personal and external factors on their participation Using the Y-PEM as a tool to facilitate this reflection and discussion about youth's participation can guide therapy interventions focused on participation through eliciting meaningful client-centered goals as well as strategies to address environmental barriers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphones can increase productivity and ease accessing information, however the possible negative implications for high smartphone use or problematic smartphone use (PSU) are not fully understood. The current study examined anxiety-linked memory and attention deficits to determine whether PSU moderates these relationships. Cross-sectional data from 506 young adults aged 18–29 years (68% female) were analysed in separate regression models to investigate whether PSU (Mobile Phone Problem Use scale) moderated the relationship between state and trait anxiety (State-Cognitive and Trait-Cognitive subscales of State Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety) and everyday memory and attentional failures (the False Triggering, Forgetfulness and Distractibility subscales of the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire). Our results showed that PSU moderated the combined influence of state and trait anxiety for distractibility, such that those who reported higher PSU and higher trait anxiety reported greater errors of distractibility during higher, but not lower state anxiety. However, our predictions for false triggering and forgetfulness were not supported; the only significant finding was a trend for higher trait anxiety to be related to increased failures of false triggering and forgetfulness. Real-world implications of findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young people (YP) are disproportionately affected by the HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but testing rates remain low despite global targets of testing 95% of people with HIV infection by 2030. HIV self-testing (HIVST) has been recently introduced to reach high-risk population groups such as these. Thus, synthesis of emerging evidence on the acceptability and use of HIVST among YP in SSA is needed so that comprehensive information can be generated to inform policy and practice. Methods: We employed a mixed methods systematic review of quantitative and qualitative literature reporting on HIVST among YP involving any design and published in English by 31st of October 2023. The review synthesized quantitative evidence on acceptability and use of HIVST, and qualitative evidence on perspectives of YP about HIVST. We searched databases of published articles (e.g. MEDLINE, CINAHL) and Gray literature sources (e.g. Google, Google Scholar). The concepts for the search included self-testing, HIV/AIDS, and countries in SSA. Two authors independently screened, retrieved full-text, and assessed quality of the studies. Results: A total of 4150 studies were retrieved and 32 studies were finally included in the review. Acceptability of HIVST computed from a single item asking YP on their preference or willingness or demand for HIVST was moderate (34–67%) to high (≥ 67%) among YP in SSA. Nine of the fourteen studies that reported on acceptability found high acceptability of HIVST. Use of HIVST ranged from 0.8 to 100% while in most studies the use rate was below 50%. Key barriers to HIVST use were coping with a positive test in the absence of counselling and support, physical discomfort, and cost of kits. Perceived enablers included perceptions of HIVST as promoting personal empowerment and autonomy; privacy and confidentiality; and convenience in location, time, and skill. Conclusions: HIVST was highly accepted but not well utilized among YP in SSA. YP showed diversified needs with mixed preferences for location, and modalities of service provision. Overall, the review identified heterogeneous evidence in terms of methods, population, outcome measures, and results. The review was registered in the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: ID = CRD42021278919). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schools are well-placed to offer support to young people who self-harm. However, research shows that pupils who disclose self-harm behaviour to school staff are often faced with negative reactions and unhelpful responses. There is a clear need for an increased level of knowledge and understanding for staff to respond more appropriately. This study explored the expectations of young people and the needs of staff when responding to self-harm. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine young people and 11 school staff. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Three key themes were identified: (1) Lack of knowledge and confidence to appropriately respond to self-harm (2) Systemic barriers and facilitators to help-seeking in schools and (3) Positive relationships facilitate help-seeking.Young people and staff believe there is an unmet need for training to help staff confidently address self-harm. Future research should involve stakeholders to develop interventions to improve the school response to self-harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial proportion of all reported child sexual abuse is perpetrated by other young people, though it is challenging to accurately depict its prevalence. Even less is known about the help-seeking behaviors of young people. Understanding how they seek help for their own problematic sexualized behavior is crucial to better inform therapeutic interventions and early intervention opportunities. This study used an administrative dataset of contacts (N = 901) received by Kids Helpline over nine years. Given the paucity of research on this topic, our approach to draw upon the contacts made to Kids Helpline by young people concerned about their own sexualized interests or behaviors is innovative and exploratory. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine the characteristics of each contact as well as the demographics of the young people making contact. The present study examined the characteristics of 695 males and 206 females (aged 10 to 25) seeking help for their own problematic sexualized behaviors. Young people who contacted Kids Helpline for problematic sexualized behavior reported the following specific concerns: sexual behaviors (40.50%) and pornography use (38.20%). A quarter of contacts (25.86%) raised multiple concerns. Results suggest that intervention should be provided early and in an age-graded way. Several implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of human beings since 2020, especially the young people and the pre-existing marginalized groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the multi-country outbreak of mpox in 2022 additionally posed a significant stress on the most-affected communities (i.e., MSM). This study investigated the level of depressive symptoms and its multifaceted associated factors among Chinese young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in this unique period. In September 2022, a large-scale cross-sectional survey was conducted among YMSM aged 18–29 years across six representative provinces in China. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the various types of associated factors of depressive symptoms. Among the 2493 participants, 65.6 % (n = 1638) reported mild to severe depressive symptoms. The hierarchical regression analysis identified that depressive symptoms was significantly positively associated with unemployment, having substance use in the past 6 months, a higher level of MSM self-stigma, incompletion of COVID-19 vaccination, greater mpox risk perception, and presence of mpox related-like symptoms. This study used the facility-based sampling method to recruit the participants, which may lead to selection bias. Chinese YMSM faced significant mental health challenges during the concurrent epidemics of COVID-19 and mpox, which was associated with their socio-economic status, risk behaviors, stigma, and multiple diseases-related variables. Proactive measures may hold promise as effective strategies for mitigating mental distress among marginalized groups during public health crises. • YMSM experienced severe depressive symptoms in dual-threat context in China. • Identifies key influencing factors across demographic and psychosocial realms. • Urges tailored mental health support for YMSM during health emergencies. • Recommends proactive mental health measures like campaigns and counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the dietary patterns, health behaviors, and related determinants among young people in Poland, amid increasing lifestyle-related health concerns like obesity and poor nutrition. Understanding the factors influencing these behaviors is crucial for crafting effective public health strategies. The objective was to analyze young Poles' eating habits, their perceptions of health, and the role of various determinants in shaping these behaviors. Methods: A survey was conducted among a representative sample of young Poles, gathering data on eating habits, health perceptions, and lifestyle choices. The survey focused on the respondents' understanding of healthy eating, sources of nutrition knowledge, and the influence of family, social media, and public health campaigns. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and correlations between health behaviors and socio-demographic factors were examined. Results: The study revealed that 88% of young respondents prioritize health, with 73% acknowledging a link between nutrition and health. While most participants accurately described healthy eating and reported adherence to dietary guidelines, 43% engaged in emotional eating, which often led to compulsive behaviors associated with obesity. Social media, internet articles, and family were primary sources of nutrition knowledge. Despite their knowledge, fruit and vegetable consumption was below recommended levels, and physical activity levels were insufficient in nearly half of the respondents. Only 36% regularly read food labels, with many choosing products containing additives. Appearance-related stress was prevalent among 52% of respondents, while sleep deficits and lack of sufficient physical activity were common. Conclusions: The findings suggest that while young Poles possess a high level of awareness regarding healthy eating, gaps remain in the application of this knowledge, particularly concerning emotional eating and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. Public health campaigns should be more effectively targeted to address these gaps and promote sustainable health behaviors from early childhood. Addressing emotional eating, enhancing physical activity, and improving nutrition education through effective channels like social media are key to improving public health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder that is characterised by a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood as well as marked impulsivity. BPD has its peak incidence and prevalence from puberty through to emerging adulthood. BPD is a controversial diagnosis in young people. Commonly, young people with BPD are under-diagnosed, untreated, are not in employment or training and are estranged from their families. Yet, they have complex needs and are at high suicide risk. Aim: To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (f-RCT) of a BRIDGE, a brief intervention programme for young people (age 14-24) with BPD symptoms (sub-threshold or threshold) in a community sample from Scotland, UK. Method: Forty young people (age 14-24) meeting criteria for BPD symptoms, will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a) the BRIDGE intervention plus service-as-usual or b) service-as-usual alone. Follow up will be 12 weeks and 24 weeks post-intervention. The study is carried out between 2021 to 2024. Outcome: The two primary outcomes of theMQfunded, BRIDGE project (f-RCT) are i. recruitment rates and ii. retention rates. The study will present the acceptability and appropriateness of our putative outcome measures for a future definitive randomised controlled trial (d-RCT). Impact: Young people with BPD benefit from good clinical care and targeted intervention, however are regularly missed or mislabelled. The community based feasibility trial would provide initial evidence of variable needs of young people with complex needs, who maybe missed or excluded from services as they don't "fit" a model/diagnosis. Workable multi-agency service model proposed in the trial would be a major advance in understanding care pathways regardless of trial outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan has been published for England and includes a recommendation for SEND Assessment and Review Teams guidance. These teams co‐ordinate and monitor the statutory Education, Health and Care Plans detailing the needs and provision for children with SEND, but their views on this responsibility are absent from the literature and are essential to inform the proposed guidance. This study gathered the views of 58 SEND officers within a region. They completed an online survey with a mixture of both qualitative and quantitative items. SEND officers wish to work collaboratively with families but struggled with the capacity to be able to do this. Increasing numbers of assessment requests, reported experiences of abusive interactions and lack of clarity in their role contributed to the high turnover of SEND officers. They predominantly receive ‘on the job’ training for their role, contributing to inconsistencies both within and between local authorities. The study concludes by sharing the recommendations from the SEND officers on the improvements needed to support these teams and in turn provide a supportive and responsive service for families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk of negative health outcomes, with risks reduced through evidence-based treatments. Therefore, ensuring continued access to treatment for young people with ADHD, especially as they transition from child to adult services, is a priority. Currently many young people with ADHD are unable to access adequate care, with negative consequences for patients and their communities. Preliminary evidence suggests digital health interventions (DHIs) may act as an effective adjunct to usual care, helping overcome barriers to access, and improving outcomes by increasing understanding of ADHD as a long-term condition. The aim of this mixed methods study is to explore the healthcare information preferences of people with lived experience of ADHD in the primary care context and considers these in the light of the emerging body of literature on DHIs for ADHD. To explore this, a descriptive summary of cross-sectional survey responses was compared and discussed in the context of DHIs identified in a scoping review. Results: Digital apps, followed by support groups, were deemed the most useful information resource types by survey respondents, but were the least currently used/provided. Over 40% participants indicated a preference for signposting to all resource types by their general practitioner (GP), suggesting that GPs are credible sources for ADHD healthcare information. The scoping review identified nine studies of DHI for ADHD, consisting of games, symptom monitoring, psychoeducation, and medication reminders, with limited evidence of effectiveness/implementation. Conclusions: People with ADHD state a preference for digital apps as an adjunct to usual care. However, these are currently the least provided information resource in primary care, indicating a key area for future development. The limited evidence base on DHIs for ADHD suggests combining digital apps and support networks, and utilising multimodal delivery methods may also enhance the delivery of healthcare information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Secondary schools are important settings for promoting varied physical activity (PA) opportunities for adolescents to promote PA throughout life. However, research on the effect of secondary school-based interventions on future PA is limited. This study examined the potential impact of secondary school-based interventions on the determinants of future PA participation of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) adolescents using simulated modelling. Methods: We used data from a nationally representative sample of secondary school students (n = 5035) aged 12–17 between 2017 and 2020 in NZ. We modelled four secondary school-based interventions and their projected impact on five determinants of future PA. Modelled interventions were the technological augmentation of physical education (TAPE), a peer-led PA mentoring programme (PL), physically active learning (PAL) and the inclusion of a natural environment play area (NE). Results: Total weekly PA increased the most from the NE intervention (+ 0.2 h/week), followed by TAPE (+ 0.08 h/week), PAL (+ 0.05 h/week) and PL (-0.06 h/week). Current number of PA settings increased the most in NE (+ 1.75 settings/week), followed by TAPE (+ 1.29 settings/week), PAL (+ 1.21 settings/week) and PL (+ 0.73 settings/week). Current number of PA types increased the most in NE (+ 1.57 types/week), followed by PL (+ 1.05 types/week), TAPE (+ 0.34 types/week) and PAL (+ 0.15 types/week). Physical literacy scores increased the most from PL (+ 3.6%), followed by PAL (+ 3.3%), TAPE (+ 0.43%) and NE (+ 0.12%). Social support scores increased the most from PAL (+ 5%), followed by PL (+ 1.9%), TAPE (+ 1.46%) and NE (+ 0.57%). Conclusions: On average, all interventions benefitted determinants of future PA participation to a small degree. Results show differing magnitudes of the intervention effect by determinant, indicating the complexities surrounding the promotion of PA adherence. Future interventions could be improved through detailed consultation alongside, and involving, adolescents and stakeholders within schools. Researchers should also prioritise the collection of longitudinal PA data and explore its connection with sociodemographic differences between adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses findings from interviews conducted in England with 15 self-identified feminist mothers about sex and relationships education in the home. Participants’ understandings and enactments of being sexuality educators for their children involved what they described as open and honest ‘sex positive’ communication with their children, based on their subjective views about gender and sexual rights, safety and wellbeing. Participants were concerned about protecting their children from oftentimes gendered risks of judgement shame and abuse. Feminist sex and relationships education in the home for these mothers was shaped, and sometimes constrained, by the gendered sociocultural conditions of their children’s lives. Implications are discussed regarding the need for self-reflexivity amongst feminist mothers, supported by collaborative local and community educational initiatives to identify and collectively tackle the social contexts in which risks and harms arise for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young people are sharing their experiences of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the United Kingdom on TikTok. Little is known about the content of these videos and their influence on young people's attitudes towards seeking professional mental health support. Methods: This study explored how CAMHS is represented in a sample of 100 #camhs TikTok videos using participatory inductive framework thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were developed alongside young people as co‐researchers: (a) CAMHS can be frustrating and unhelpful, but sometimes life‐saving, (b) Young people can feel their distress is invalidated by CAMHS, (c) CAMHS makes young people feel responsible for their distress, and (d) Young people may not feel CAMHS professionals are trustworthy. Video content described dismissive responses to expressions of suicidal ideation, professional knowledge being privileged over lived experience, and breaches of confidentiality. Some shared positive experiences of CAMHS helping to keep them safe. Conclusions: Together, the themes reflect a representation of CAMHS as a service where adults are powerful and young people occupy a subjugated position. This may influence young people's professional help‐seeking behaviour. Recommendations for clinical practice and future research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on everyday life through a qualitative research study focusing on the role of age in managing uncertainty. Grounded in a cultural and symbolic perspective on risk, the study examines how rituals, emotions, and cultural contexts shaped the experiences of individuals aged 15–34 in Milan, Italy, as they navigated daily risks. Drawing on 42 semi-structured interviews conducted between September 2022 and May 2023, the findings reveal that age significantly influenced how young people navigated post-pandemic uncertainties. The youngest participants often felt fear and anxiety, mainly due to concerns for others' well-being, coupled with a strong need for social interaction and community. In contrast, slightly older young professionals showed a more complex emotional response characterised by caution, frustration, and empathy. Across all age groups in the sample, daily routines and social interactions kept reinforcing societal norms and hierarchies, particularly concerning generations and family dynamics within Italian culture, with a specific emphasis on vulnerable populations, namely older adults. These findings highlight the importance of considering both life stage and cultural context when analysing responses to uncertainty. Still, they underscore young people's adaptability as both a reactive process and a forward-looking one involving agency. This flexibility was particularly evident in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Lombardy region of Italy, where the virus spread earlier and with more severe consequences than in most parts of the Western world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: General practitioners (GPs) are key to the frontline assessment and treatment of young people after self‐harm. Young people value GP‐led self‐harm care, but little is known about how GPs manage young people after self‐harm. Aim: This study aimed to understand the approaches of GPs to self‐harm in young people and explore their perspectives on ways they might help young people avoid repeat self‐harm. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with GPs from the National Health Service in England in 2021. GPs were recruited from four geographically spread clinical research networks and a professional special interest group. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The study's patient and public involvement and community of practice groups supported participant recruitment and data analysis. Results: Fifteen interviews were undertaken with a mean age of participants being 41 years and a breadth of experience in practice ranging from 1 to 22 years. Four themes were generated: GPs' understanding of self‐harm; approaches to managing self‐harm; impact of COVID‐19 on consultations about self‐harm; and ways to avoid future self‐harm. Conclusion: Negative attitudes towards self‐harm within clinical settings are well documented, but GPs said they took self‐harm seriously, listened to young people, sought specialist support when concerned and described appropriate ways to help young people avoid self‐harm. GPs felt that relationship‐based care is an important element of self‐harm care but feared remote consultations for self‐harm may impede on this. There is a need for brief GP‐led interventions to reduce repeat self‐harm in young people. Patient and Public Contribution: A study advisory group consisting of young people aged 16–25 years with personal experience of self‐harm and parents and carers of young people who have self‐harmed designed the recruitment poster of this study, informed its topic guide and contributed to its findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people in residential care in Australia have generally experienced significant childhood trauma and neglect. Consequently, they present with a range of complex and challenging behaviours that pose a risk to themselves and others. Numerous reports have emphasised the need for trauma therapy for children; however, young people in residential care frequently do not access effective therapeutic services. In this article, the authors detail and reflect on the implementation of a treatment package of the Sleeping Dogs method plus Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) to engage young people living in residential care in EMDR therapy to process their complex trauma. IMPLICATIONS An integrated treatment package of Sleeping Dogs method with intensive EMDR can overcome the barriers to the successful implementation of evidence-based trauma treatment with young people living in residential care. Implementation requires collaboration between all systems surrounding the young person and compassionate engagement with families and carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Lithium, even at low doses, appears to offer neuroprotection against a wide variety of insults. In this controlled pilot, we examined the safety (i.e., side‐effect profile) of lithium in a sample of young people identified at ultra‐high risk (UHR) for psychosis. The secondary aim was to explore whether lithium provided a signal of clinical efficacy in reducing transition to psychosis compared with treatment as usual (TAU). Methods: Young people attending the PACE clinic at Orygen, Melbourne, were prescribed a fixed dose (450 mg) of lithium (n = 25) or received TAU (n = 78). The primary outcome examined side‐effects, with transition to psychosis, functioning and measures of psychopathology assessed as secondary outcomes. Results: Participants in both groups were functionally compromised (lithium group GAF = 56.6; monitoring group GAF = 56.9). Side‐effect assessment indicated that lithium was well‐tolerated. 64% (n = 16) of participants in the lithium group were lithium‐adherent to week 12. Few cases transitioned to psychosis across the study period; lithium group 4% (n = 1); monitoring group 7.7% (n = 6). There was no difference in time to transition to psychosis between the groups. No group differences were observed in other functioning and symptom domains, although all outcomes improved over time. Conclusions: With a side‐effect profile either comparable to, or better than UHR antipsychotic trials, lithium might be explored for further research with UHR young people. A definitive larger trial is needed to determine the efficacy of lithium in this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has adopted a deficits-based approach to chronic pain, neglecting the study of flourishing. Using a Q-methodological framework, this study sought to explore how individuals experience, understand and perceive flourishing in the context of young people living with chronic pain. Fifty-four individuals completed a Q-sorting task, indicating their level of agreement and disagreement with 52 statements. Q-analysis generated three factors that represented clear viewpoints of participants: 'Pain is not a barrier to flourishing', 'Adapting to a new life' and 'Adopting a positive perspective'. Factors expressed the viewpoints that flexibility is key to enjoying life despite chronic pain, while resilience, management of stressors, acceptance and problem-solving may be required to flourish with chronic pain. Participants' understanding of flourishing also focused on the appreciation and enjoyment of life and achievements. This study provides a useful contribution towards furthering our understanding of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The use of e‐cigarettes may influence later smoking uptake in young people. Evidence and gap maps (EGMs) are interactive on‐line tools that display the evidence and gaps in a specific area of policy or research. The aim of this study was to map clusters and gaps in evidence exploring the relationship between e‐cigarette use or availability and subsequent combustible tobacco use in people aged < 30 years. Methods: We conducted an EGM of primary studies and systematic reviews. A framework and an interactive EGM was developed in consultation with an expert advisory group. A systematic search of five databases retrieved 9057 records, from which 134 studies were included. Systematic reviews were appraised using AMSTAR‐2, and all included studies were coded into the EGM framework resulting in the interactive web‐based EGM. A descriptive analysis of key characteristics of the identified evidence clusters and gaps resulted in this report. Results: Studies were completed between 2015 and 2023, with the first systematic reviews being published in 2017. Most studies were conducted in western high‐income countries, predominantly the United States. Cohort studies were the most frequently used study design. The evidence is clustered on e‐cigarette use as an exposure, with an absolute gap identified for evidence looking into the availability of e‐cigarettes and subsequent cessation of cigarette smoking. We also found little evidence analysing equity factors, and little exploring characteristics of e‐cigarette devices. Conclusions: This evidence and gap map (EGM) offers a tool to explore the available evidence regarding the e‐cigarette use/availability and later cigarette smoking in people under the age of 30 years at the time of the search. The majority of the 134 reports is from high‐income countries, with an uneven geographic distribution. Most of the systematic reviews are of lower quality, suggesting the need for higher‐quality reviews. The evidence is clustered around e‐cigarette use as an exposure and subsequent frequency/intensity of current combustible tobacco use. Gaps in evidence focusing on e‐cigarette availability, as well as on the influence of equity factors may warrant further research. This EGM can support funders and researchers in identifying future research priorities, while guiding practitioners and policymakers to the current evidence base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity, sport, and physical education share many similar qualities with trauma-informed practice, including promoting relationships, inclusion, and physical and mental well-being. There is growing research and programs that incorporate trauma-informed practices into physical activity programs for young people. The aim of this systematic review was to explore current evidence-based, Trauma-Informed Physical Activity programs for young people. Four databases were searched using the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines for systematic reviews. The search identified 19 studies that highlighted most Trauma-Informed Physical Activity programs reviewed resulted in positive social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes for children and adolescents. However, further research and randomized control trials are required to understand the longitudinal outcomes of Trauma-Informed Physical Activity programs for children and adolescents. Program facilitators reported on the benefits of support and professional development opportunities for trauma awareness to administer Trauma-Informed Physical Activity programs with children and young people. Implications from this study emphasize the importance of the continued design, delivery, and research of Trauma-Informed Physical Activity programs for young people exposed to trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many young people in Western countries are abstaining from alcohol consumption, but their Nigerian counterparts are adopting lifestyles that valorize alcohol use and heavy drinking rituals. This study explored heavy drinking practices and alcohol-related harms among young Nigerians (students and nonstudents) who use alcohol. Although participants were highly knowledgeable about the harms associated with heavy drinking, they reported heavy drinking and normalized intoxication. Most participants consumed between 3 and 12 bottles of beer, stout and other alcoholic beverages on a single occasion and suffered multiple incidents of intoxication and loss of control with adverse outcomes. Many participants suffered more than one health-related consequence, like vomiting, hangovers, and abdominal pain, while others fell sick, which incapacitated them for many days/weeks. Heavy drinking and intoxication also adversely impacted training and studies, as some participants could not go to work or attend lectures as planned. The findings highlighted the need for prevention and intervention strategies that seek to reduce heavy drinking and associated harms by targeting the social norms around heavy drinking specifically. Lessons learned in regions with youth drinking decline may inform public health strategies that can be implemented in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greater use of communication technologies among young people, including mobile phones, social media and communication apps, has coincided with declines in youth alcohol use in many high-income countries. However, little research has unpacked how drinking as a practice within interconnected routines and interactions may be changing alongside these technologies. Drawing on qualitative interviews about drinking with young people aged 16–23 across three similar studies in Australia, the United Kingdom and Sweden, we identify how communication technologies may afford reduced or increased drinking. They may reduce drinking by producing new online contexts, forms of intimacy and competing activities. They may increase drinking by re-organising drinking occasions, rituals and contexts. And they may increase or reduce drinking by enabling greater fluidity and interaction between diverse practices. These countervailing dynamics have likely contributed to shifting drinking patterns and practices for young people that may be obscured beneath the population-level decline in youth drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown occurred in March 2020 bringing challenges for early intervention psychosis (EIP) services. Limited evidence exists on the impacts of the pandemic on treatment outcomes among EIP clients. This prospective cohort study analysed routine data from 15 headspace Early Psychosis centres in Australia. Participants were 12 to 25 years, meeting criteria for First Episode Psychosis (FEP) or Ultra High Risk of psychosis (UHR) comparing those who commenced treatment 'pre-COVID-19' (between 16th August 2018 and 15th August 2019), and 'during-COVID-19' (between 1st March 2020 and 15th September 2020). Clinical symptoms at treatment commencement were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). with outcomes after 6 months compared between cohorts using linear mixed-effects regression, controlling for confounders. Of 1246 young people analysed (653 FEP, 596 UHR), significant improvements were observed with treatment in both groups (5 to 13-point reduction in BPRS score per 6-months treatment). Treatment effectiveness reduced during-COVID-19 for psychosis symptoms, with the FEP BPRS treatment effect lower by 4.3 points (95%CI: 0.5, 8.1). UHR clients had lower BPRS negative symptoms during-COVID-19 (p = 0.020). Service contacts increased during-COVID-19, with increased telehealth services (p < 0.001). Early intervention remained effective for FEP and UHR, despite the pandemic and transition of EIP services to virtual service delivery. Reduced treatment efficacy in FEP psychosis symptoms may indicate potential limitations of telehealth. Further research to examine longer term clinical and functional outcomes due to the pandemic is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Although there has been growth in online STI testing services, more attention is needed to understand how to facilitate effective treatment pathways for users. This study investigated where young people want to be treated for gonorrhoea and syphilis if they test positive using an online service. Methods. We conducted an online survey of Australians aged 16-29 years that included multiple choice and free-text questions about their preferred location for receiving injectable antibiotics. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression examined associations between respondent characteristics and service preferences. Content analysis was used to code free-text responses. Results. Among 905 survey respondents, 777 (85.9%) answered questions on treatment preferences. Respondents most commonly preferred injectable antibiotics provided by a sexual health clinic (294; 37.8%) or a nurse in a pharmacy (208; 26.8%). Gender/sexually diverse respondents were more likely to select sexual health clinics over general practice (MSM RRR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.7; WSW RRR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-5.7; trans/non-binary RRR 2.5; 95% CI 1.0-6.0). Older respondents (aged 25-29 years) were more likely to choose all alternatives over general practice, with the reverse found for those who had previously tested. From open-text answers, pharmacies were valued for their convenience, and sexual health clinics for providing non-judgemental, free services by specialists. Conclusions. Differences in treatment preferences by certain groups of young people suggest that different service offerings may influence treatment-seeking outcomes from online STI testing services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]