Young people have different views on mental health than authorities

The Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF) organised a national workshop on 11 June at the Nordic Welfare Centre in Stockholm, with a wide range of Swedish youth organisations invited. Group discussions provided insight into how young people define the concept of mental health and how their perceptions differ from those of the authorities.

Non-binary people feel more alone

Poor mental health has long been a growing problem among young people in the Nordic countries, a worrying trend. Victoria C Wahlgren from MUCF presented the report Ung idag 2024:1, based on an online survey with only young people.

Reasons for poor well-being include demands for performance, concerns about the future, societal norms about body and gender, non-functioning relationships, and the influence of social media. Important is also the feeling of not being able to be who you want to be.

The survey shows that young people who belong to the norm in society often feel relatively well, while those surveyed in the LGBTQ group report feeling worse and more lonely. In particular, those who do not identify as a girl or a boy, but have ticked the ‘other’ box, experience a higher degree of loneliness.

Respect for identity is fundamental

Participants in the workshop linked mental health to the freedom to live the life you want to live without being limited by mental illness. It is not only about the absence of depression or eating disorders, but also about being able to fulfil your decisions and live a full life. Mental health is seen as a holistic system, not just a temporary absence of ill-being.

Mental wellbeing was defined as the ability to cope with life’s challenges with resilience and tools to recover from adversity. It emphasises the importance of a broad repertoire to cope with mental difficulties as part of life, and the minority perspective is particularly highlighted.

Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen, Chair of Saminourra, emphasised that for Sami young people, for example, respect for their existence, identity and culture is fundamental to well-being.

During the discussions, it emerged that many young people lack adequate knowledge about what well-being means. It can be very difficult to define what is normal and know when to seek support. For minority groups, this uncertainty can be compounded by a lack of trust in social institutions.

When the discussion turned to minority stress, the importance of investing in safe role models and community-based people was emphasised, as these can have a major impact on young people’s lives.

Differences in views on mental health

Young people do not share the same views on mental health and well-being as authorities. While authorities often focus on mental illness and the problems it causes, participants in the workshop want to see a broader perspective that includes both health and well-being. They see mental health as an umbrella concept that includes mental health problems as well as positive well-being and good relationships.

Young people ask for more positive and inclusive language from authorities. Many interventions from authorities are focused on health care, which young people see as insufficient. They call for broader solutions that also take into account other factors and strategies to address mental health problems. In addition, young people’s mental health is affected by structures within society, such as schools, which require changes to improve their well-being.

More resources for schools

Shahin Khosravi, youth representative on the Nordic Committee for Children and Young People (NORDBUK), emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach to improving young people’s mental health.

– We need a holistic approach that includes early intervention and cross-sectoral collaboration, says Khosravi, pointing out that this is crucial to effectively support young people.

He also emphasises the need to look at the context and create good conditions for well-being at the community level.

– We need more resources to close the gaps in schools and enable them to fulfil their mission, as well as more accessible healthcare – across the country, says Khosravi.

Supporting children and youth movements

The conversations also revealed that supporting initiatives from the children and youth movement is of utmost importance. Several people emphasised the need to give these movements the resources they need, with long-term funding rather than short-term project-based solutions.

– We need to support the initiatives of the children and youth movement, give them the resources they need and invest in long-term solutions, Khosravi emphasised.

Elias Fjellander, chair of RFSL Youth, also stressed the importance of authorities and adult society working together with young people’s own organisations to get a better overall picture.

Mental health changes throughout life

Simon Danielsson from the Swedish branch of YMCA, KFUM Central, is project manager for a project on young people’s mental health called Må bäst! The project has developed a way of working to raise awareness of mental health. It can be used as a tool for leaders and participants to reflect on mental health together and consists of a digital training, conversation cards and a book.

– The basic assumption of the project is that one’s mental health is changing, and that it is therefore always a relevant topic. Based on the understanding that mental health changes throughout life, we argue that everyone can and should work on their well-being and prevent mental disorders and ill-health, to promote their mental health, says Simon Danielsson.

Long waiting times for help

Shahram Mansoory, investigator at the Ombudsman for Children, highlighted several important aspects of children’s right to good mental health. Mansoory emphasised that it is crucial that help is available when children ask for it, and a major problem is the long waiting times for help.

– If a child is doing well, the chances of the child being able to realise their rights increase, and vice versa, a child who is not doing well has much less chance of claiming their rights, explained Mansoory.

Based on conversations with children, professionals and research data, the BO report highlights the inequality of support depending on parental resources.

One clear problem that emerged from the BO report was that even if student health services were available, they were often perceived as inaccessible and not always responsive to children’s needs.

The results will be available in the autumn

The Nordic Welfare Centre hosted the workshop. This Nordic co-operation aims to give young people a stronger voice and greater influence in Nordic co-operation, with the goal of producing good and well-founded recommendations for mental well-being.

MUCF, with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers and the European Union, is leading a project focusing on the mental well-being of children and young people across the Nordic region.

The aim of the workshops, which will be held across the Nordic region, is to help shape the agenda for a main conference in Stockholm on 6-7 November. The outcome of the whole process will then be shared at a public event at the end of November.