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Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing in Children and Young People at Risk—Second Edition

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
WellFare: Nordic Research Centre for Wellbeing and Social Sustainability, Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Noway
Interests: wellbeing; recovery; mental health; substance abuse; citizenship; relational welfare; social justice
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare (RKBU Midt-Norge), Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Interests: child and adolescent mental health; developmental psychology; adolescence; identity development; social support; social networks; early intervention; school research; child welfare; residential youth care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

After the success of the first edition of this Special Issue, “Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing in Children and Young People at Risk”, we have decided to launch a second edition, as we firmly believe that this topic merits further exploration.

An increasing number of children and adolescents are living with mental health problems, and the complexity of preventing and handling these challenges has been widely discussed in recent decades. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that there is an urgent need to promote mental health and wellbeing in children and young people. Health-promoting strategies and the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations within and among different services at both the community and national levels are of significant importance in promoting children’s and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. For children and young people living in vulnerable life situations or at risk of developing mental health problems, a variety of risk factors may represent significant contributors. These factors can relate to structures and relationships within the family environment, the conditions in which they grow up, institutional factors concerning daycare or schooling, child and adolescent services within the community, or personal factors within each individual. To address these potential complex needs in children and young people, early interventions and collaborations across disciplines and professions are key. 

This Special Issue will gather current knowledge on mental health and wellbeing in children and young people living in vulnerable life situations or at risk of poor mental health, on the practical implications of health-promoting actions, and on interdisciplinary collaborations between services to promote mental health and wellbeing in children and adolescents. 

For this Special Issue, we welcome a wide range of article types, including conceptual and empirical articles, reviews, critical comments, and meta-analyses. We will accept manuscripts from across disciplines as long as they address topics related to our scope.

Prof. Dr. Ottar Ness
Dr. Marianne Tevik Singstad
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • children at risk
  • mental health
  • wellbeing
  • health-promoting
  • early intervention
  • community
  • services
  • interdisciplinary collaboration

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 354 KB  
Article
The Lived Experience of Thai LGBTQ+ Adolescents—Self-Discovery, Healing from Depression, and the Need for Support: A Phenomenological Study
by Wipawan Chaoum Pensuksan, Saifon Aekwarangkoon, Montha Saithanwanitkul, Christina Montsma and Earlise Ward
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(12), 1851; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22121851 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 789
Abstract
LGBTQ+ adolescents experience disproportionately high rates of depression globally, yet little is known about how these experiences are shaped by Thailand’s unique cultural context. This study addresses this gap by examining how Thai LGBTQ+ adolescents understand and navigate depression, identity development, [...] Read more.
LGBTQ+ adolescents experience disproportionately high rates of depression globally, yet little is known about how these experiences are shaped by Thailand’s unique cultural context. This study addresses this gap by examining how Thai LGBTQ+ adolescents understand and navigate depression, identity development, and culturally shaped support systems. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted with a sample of 20 Thai LGBTQ+ adolescents from rural regions. Thematic analysis identified three interrelated themes: (1) struggles with self-discovery, acceptance, and their relationship to depression; (2) living with depression and moving forward; and (3) the need for acceptance and understanding. Findings demonstrate that cultural norms—particularly family obligations, conditional acceptance, and collectivist expectations—intensify depression and shape help-seeking, coping, and identity development. The study highlights the need for culturally responsive mental-health interventions that integrate gender-diversity awareness, family education, LGBTQ+-affirming school environments, and confidential support options. These findings suggest new, context-specific evidence for designing culturally responsive mental-health interventions for LGBTQ+ adolescents in Thailand. Full article
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