I don’t want to disturb: a citizen social science study on school health-services in Oslo, Norway

Abstract Background The right of children and young people to be heard is often undermined by limited practical guidelines and follow-up. This project aims to: 1) refine methods for youth participation in research and service design; 2) integrate youth perspectives into public health decisions; and 3) empower youth to participate in decisions affecting them, using school health services as an example. Methods This municipal case study in Oslo, Norway (spring 2025) employed a citizen social science framework ‘House of Training’ to enhance youth participation in public health decisions. Junior high school students (age 13-14) were trained as co-researchers and investigated self-selected public health topics within their school. Results The students developed research questions, conducted interviews and a school-wide survey with students. Preliminary survey results (n = 206) indicate low awareness of school health services. One student writes, <<I think it's difficult to understand what the school health services is >>. Girls utilize the service significantly more than boys (χ2 (1, N = 206)=11.5, p < 0.001) and desire closer contact (χ2 (1, N = 206)=6.3, p < 0.01). In their last contact, 22% reported seeking help for mental health concerns, stress and sleep issues. Based on their findings, the students will formulate recommendations for the school health service in a living lab with relevant stakeholders in June 2025. Conclusions The preliminary findings highlight a need to improve awareness and accessibility of school health services among youth, particularly boys. The higher utilization and expressed desire for closer contact among girls, coupled with the significant proportion seeking support for mental health and stress, underscores the potential of this service for young people's well-being. The citizen social science approach demonstrates a valuable method for directly incorporating youth perspectives into the development of more responsive and relevant school health interventions. Key messages • The study enhances school health service design through systematic youth participation. • Preliminary findings indicate low service utilization, mainly in boys, requiring targeted interventions.