ORCID
- Rohit Shankar: 0000-0002-1183-6933
- Roger Farrell: 0000-0002-8485-7559
Abstract
Introduction Three-quarters of mental health problems start before the age of 25. However, young people are the least likely to receive mental healthcare. Some young people (such as those from ethnic minorities) are even less likely to receive mental healthcare than others. Long-term impacts of mental health problems include poorer physical health, relationships, education and employment. We aim to elicit the views, experiences and needs of diverse young people (aged 16–24 years), to better understand (1) their experiences of under-representation, mental health and coping, (2) mechanisms that shape mental health trajectories and (3) how online arts and culture might be made engaging and useful for young people’s mental health. We also aim to do this with autistic young people.Methods and analysis Narrative inquiry will be employed as a tool for gathering young people’s perspectives for an iterative analysis. The narrative method proposes that critical insights and knowledge are distributed across social systems and can be discovered in personal stories and that knowledge can be relayed, stored and retrieved through these stories. Data will be transcribed and explored using a combination of thematic and intersectional analysis. Young people will be core members of the research team, shape the research and be involved in the coding of data and interpretation of the findings.Ethics and dissemination This study (IRAS project ID 340259) has received ethical approval from the HRA and Health and Care Research Wales (REC reference 24/SC/0083). The outputs will identify touch points and refine the logic model of how online arts and culture might support the mental health of those from under-represented backgrounds. We will share knowledge with young people, policy makers, health professionals, carers, teachers, social workers and people who work in arts and culture. We will produce research papers, blogs, newsletters, webinars, videos and podcasts.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2025-11-27
Publication Title
BMJ Open
Volume
15
Issue
11
ISSN
2044-6055
Acceptance Date
2025-11-11
Deposit Date
2025-12-03
Recommended Citation
Sheriff, R., Arday, J., Shankar, R., Mooney, R., Chandler, L., Adams, H., Nagy, L., Farrell, R., Fancourt, D., Weich, S., Henderson, C., Hassan, S., Langley, J., & Bhui, K. (2025) 'Exploring experiences of mental health challenges in under-represented young people (aged 16–24 years) in England: a narrative inquiry protocol', BMJ Open, 15(11). Available at: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-098223
