“The Idea of Not Having to Prove Anything in the Way I Needed, That Would Be Really Helpful”: Exploring Adolescents’ and Parents’ Understanding of Youth Participation During Patient-Initiated Brief Admission Enrollment in Psychiatric Inpatient Care

Enrollment in psychiatric inpatient care represents a pivotal moment in a young person's life, one that often reverberates through the entire family. This study seeks to illuminate how adolescents and parents navigate youth participation during Patient-Initiated Brief Admission enrollment, shedding light on how such involvement fosters recovery from mental health problems. Drawing on interviews with five adolescents and five parents, the study unpacks the intricate dynamics of participation, with thematic analysis revealing the underlying patterns and complexities. To deepen the understanding, theoretical frameworks of epistemic injustice and ecological systems theory are employed, offering rich perspectives on the interplay of knowledge, power, and the parental role in shaping participatory experiences. The findings show that participation is not a static concept but a relational process, rooted in trust and profoundly influenced by adolescents' ability to articulate their care needs. This capacity emerges as a cornerstone for enhancing meaningful participation and promoting recovery. Moreover, including parents in the enrollment process provides a dual vantage point-highlighting both the benefits and the challenges of inpatient care-while simultaneously enriching the participatory experience. The study underscores that youth participation in inpatient care is inherently dynamic, evolving through relationships with adults and fluctuating in intensity and frequency. Recognizing adolescents as emerging adults, capable of increasing autonomy despite health challenges, is essential to fostering equitable and empowering care. This perspective, crucial during inpatient enrollment, serves as a safeguard against epistemic injustice, ensuring that participation remains a pathway to recovery rather than a barrier.