Understanding young people's online use from their perspective: Implications for mental health services

Background Mental health professionals (MHPs) are increasingly expected to address the role of digital technology use in the mental health of children and young people (CYP). However, limited research captures how CYP themselves perceive their digital experiences, and how they would like these to be acknowledged and supported within mental health care. This study aims to explore CYP perspectives on their digital lives, including the impact on their mental health, and their views on how MHPs should approach conversations on the topic. It seeks to contribute to preventative approaches within services by supporting early identification of problematic online use in young people. Methods An online survey was conducted with CYP in the UK, using multiple-choice and opentextquestions. Content analysis was conducted collaboratively with a team of lived experience young researchers. They explored qualitative responses using systematic coding and categorisation of responses to identify themes and subthemes. The frequency of themes was then counted to highlight more common experiences and priorities. Results Young people described both helpful and harmful impacts of online use on their mental health, influenced by context and emotional state. They highlighted exposure to triggering content and addictive features as problematic, but valued supportive communities. Participants preferred open, non-judgemental conversations with MHPs and identified perceived gaps in professionals’ understanding of their online lives. Conclusions MHPs should approach digital experiences as integral to CYP lives and engage them in supportive, collaborative conversations, guided by GPI recommendations. Further service-level training and resources are needed to address MHP knowledge gaps