Can we connect with young adults? A qualitative exploration into young adults' mental health help‐seeking and perceptions of digital single‐session interventions

Abstract Objectives Mental health difficulties are rising amongst young adults in the United Kingdom, and access to mental health services is limited. Digital single‐session interventions (SSIs) offer free, scalable mental health support and may help to meet this treatment gap. To inform adaptation and implementation of SSIs, we sought to understand where young adults look for mental health support and how they perceive a behavioural activation‐based SSI called Action Brings Change (ABC) and its hosting platform. Design A qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews. Methods Interviews were conducted with N = 22 young adults (aged 19–25) in the United Kingdom to explore: (1) where they look for mental health support when they start to struggle and (2) what they think of ABC and a website developed for adolescents to access it from. Data were analysed using the Framework Method. Results Four themes were generated: (1) Where to turn when seeking help and support ; (2) ‘I think people just go off vibes really’: Establishing trust with SSIs ; (3) Will this work? Ambivalence towards SSIs ; (4) Is this for me? Considerations for engagement with SSIs . Young adults valued both online and in‐person support, so long as it was deemed trustworthy; social media content in particular was viewed as untrustworthy. Young adults expressed both hope for and scepticism towards SSIs, highlighting considerations for how to improve trust and engagement with SSIs. Conclusion SSIs can offer an accessible complement to existing mental health provision. Findings underscore the importance of co‐developed, person‐centred design and partnering with trusted providers for dissemination.