Addressing the structural and social determinants of young people’s health

Although young people’s mental health remains a public health priority, there continue to be knowledge gaps in what diverse youth identify as facilitators and barriers to accessible, safe, and inclusive mental health services and systems. To date, there is limited information about the broader social factors and forces that shape youth mental health. This research program will study the relationship between social factors and patterns of health service use for youth mental health; the role of racial discrimination in mental health and mental health care, including youth perspectives on their experiences; and ways to improve knowledge mobilization and the implementation of mental health equity interventions. Planned KT activities include in-person and online discussions, community reports, webinars, infographics, social media posts, presentations, and academic publications. This research will generate needed information about youth mental health, racial discrimination, and other social factors that can inform changes in practice, policy, and future research to address health system barriers and improve mental health outcomes for diverse youth.