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An agenda for future research regarding the mental health of young people with care experience |
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| Authors: | John Devaney Luke Power Paula Jacobs Gavin Davidson Rachel Hiller Joanna Martin Claire McCartan Pearse McCusker Rosie McGuire Alice Phillips Autumn Roesch-Marsh Anita Thapar |
| Institution: | 1. School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK;2. School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK;3. School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK;4. Department of Psychology, University of Bath, UK Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, UK;5. Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, UK;6. Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, UK;7. Department of Psychology, University of Bath, UK |
| Abstract: | Young people who are currently or were previously in state care have consistently been found to have much higher rates of mental health and neurodevelopmental difficulties than the general youth population. While a number of high-quality reviews highlight what research has been undertaken in relation to the mental health of young people with care experience and the gaps in our knowledge and understanding, there is, until now, no consensus, so far as we aware, as to where our collective research efforts should be directed with this important group. Through a series of UK wide workshops, we undertook a consultative process to identify an agreed research agenda between those with lived experience of being in care (n = 15), practitioners, policy makers and researchers (n = 59), for future research regarding the mental health of young people with care experience, including those who are neurodiverse/have a neurodevelopmental difficulty. This consensus statement identified 21 foci within four broad categories: how we conceptualize mental health; under-studied populations; under-studied topics; and underused methodologies. We hope that those who commission, fund and undertake research will engage in this discussion about the future agenda for research regarding the mental health of young people with care experience. |
| Keywords: | care experience children mental health neurodiversity out-of-home care young people |