This paper introduces the YOUTHreach project. It is a so-called consortium paper: a joint scientific article written by partners across the project. Such a paper outlines the overall aims, design, and approach of a research project. It helps researchers, policymakers, and the public understand what the project will do and why it matters.
Europe is facing a youth mental health crisis that will last for decades, impacting the long-term health outcomes, wellbeing and economic productivity of our current generation of young people. Many young people experience mental health problems, but only a minority receive appropriate care. Services are often difficult to access, not youth-friendly, or poorly connected. Large-scale, comparative research of youth-friendly mental health interventions is lacking.
YOUTHreach will evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of three existing and accessible innovative interventions for prevention and early intervention of mental ill-health in youth, developed and tested in co-creation with youth:
In addition, how practical and suitable these interventions are in real-life settings (feasibility) and how acceptable they are to young people will be tested in different European countries and Australia. More information about these three interventions and where they are being tested can be found on our website.
Beyond evaluating these interventions, YOUTHreach will also develop a youth-centred framework to compare what works best, looking not only at effectiveness but also at aspects such as accessibility, fairness, and costs. New tools and practical recommendations will be created to help countries and services implement youth mental health support in ways that fit their local context. The project will also generate openly available data, methods, and best practices for professionals, policymakers, and researchers. In addition, strong collaboration and outreach across Europe will help share knowledge and improve impact across both scientific and community settings.
YOUTHreach aims to contribute towards transformation of the present traditional mental healthcare system and provide the next generation with a better perspective in terms of health, wellbeing and productivity.
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