Political economy of adolescent mental health and well-being in Sweden: how to overcome barriers to effective financing and youth-centered collective action

BMC Public Health. 2025 Apr 23;25(1):1509. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22737-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In Sweden, adolescents (10-19-year-olds) increasingly face problems related to their mental health and well-being, driving the rise in rates of mental ill-health (e.g., anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and self-harm), and care-seeking for psychiatric conditions. Although awareness about adolescent mental health and well-being (AMH) has grown in recent years, this has not translated into effective financing and youth-centered collective action to change the trajectory. This study investigates the barriers to financing and action for AMH in Sweden, drawing lessons for global learning.

METHODS: This study triangulates data from interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), consultation and document review. The interviews and the consultation included stakeholders who have experience with and knowledge of AMH, e.g., government, civil society and funders. The FGDs included youth representatives who are mental health advocates, some with lived experience of mental ill-health. We collected the qualitative data between February 2022 and October 2023, analyzing the data using a political science framework and thematic analysis.

RESULTS: The themes that this study identifies highlight the barriers to effective financing and youth-centered collective action: (1) the limited data and evidence related to AMH; (2) the divergent definitions of and ways of framing AMH; (3) the growing but fragmented AMH stakeholder landscape; and (4) the weak multidisciplinary and multisector collaboration for AMH.

CONCLUSIONS: Transformational change is needed to improve AMH outcomes through effective financing across sectors in support of youth-centred collective action. Identified barriers may be overcome by: researchers focusing on advancing data and evidence, especially on what works in AMH prevention and promotion; stakeholders, especially advocates of AMH, deliberating and agreeing on a broadened definition and framing of AMH, led by youth and using a positive narrative; decision-makers, funders and researchers strengthening leadership, accountability and adolescent engagement for AMH, and enhancing multidisciplinary and multisector collaboration for AMH, backed up by well-coordinated, youth-centered health and social services, learning from good practices within and outside of Sweden.

PMID:40269810 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-22737-w