"There are still broken or fragmented systems": Qualitative assessment of needs to strengthen adolescent mental health services in American Samoa.

ABSTRACT: Mental health challenges appear common among adolescents in American Samoa. There is a community-identified need to better understand the health burden and identify opportunities to strengthen the mental health system to better meet adolescent mental health needs. The goal of this qualitative study was to gather community stakeholders' perceptions of common mental health problems among adolescents in American Samoa, identify existing services for adolescent mental health, and highlight strength-based opportunities to enhance care. Using the Fa'afaletui research framework, semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 28) were conducted between October 2020 and February 2021 using Zoom. Key informants were adults living in American Samoa, sampled for diversity in profession, age, gender, educati

SUBMITTER: Mew EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10872981 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature