A participatory action research qualitative thematic analysis of young men’s perspectives on well-being and flourishing

Children constitute 40% of all forcibly displaced people globally. They often face severe mental health challenges due to displacement factors. While evidence-based clinical interventions exist, international demand for mental health services frequently outweighs capacity. This qualitative study explores the interrelationship between individual mental health (flourishing) and broader social and systemic determinants of mental health, highlighting alternative supports for young people's mental health. Using arts-based methods within a Participatory Action Research approach, we collaborated with 22 young men (aged 15-18) living in Atlantic Canada who came from conflict-affected backgrounds, including Syria, Sudan, and Somalia, to explore well-being and its contextual supports. Findings reveal an interconnected web of formal and informal supports, synthesized into four themes: (1) the external bedrock of support, (2) arenas for growth, (3) cultivation of personal growth, and (4) well-being. Findings show that a strong foundation of external support is the prerequisite for the internal growth necessary for flourishing. Crucially, youth highlighted how systemic barriers, such as unsafe public transportation and a lack of accessible neighbourhood spaces, often undermine access to these supports. Results demonstrate that supporting mental health requires a dynamic interplay among the external environment, relational factors, internal development, and policy and implementation supports. Collectively, these findings emphasize the importance of accounting for social and structural determinants of mental health across municipal and government sectors. Here, findings offer actionable implications for policy and practice, particularly regarding structural determinants of mental health, such as the provision of safe, accessible community infrastructure to promote flourishing among refugee youth.