Perceptions Among Adolescents on Peer Support Communication: Recognising Warning Signs, Providing Supportive Interaction, and Addressing Stigma Around Professional Help.
1
Faculty of Communication, Culture & Society, Universita' della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2269
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Adolescence is a vulnerable phase in which many health conditions first appear. It is a period of life characterised by significant physical, emotional and social changes; hence, conditions such as depression and anxiety frequently emerge. Peers are often the first point of contact 1, yet they report feeling unprepared to recognise warning signs or communicate support effectively. Insufficient mental health literacy , concerns about confidentiality, and stigma represent barriers to effective help provision 2. This project aims to capture adolescents’ perceptions and experiences as peer supporters, and to co-develop evidence-based guidelines that support adolescents’ wellbeing, facilitate pathways to professional care and reinforce safe peer support practices.
METHODS:
This project adopts a qualitative exploratory design using six focus groups. Approximately thirty to forty adolescents aged 14-17 will be recruited through schools and sports organisations in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. Focus group topics will centre on adolescents’ perceptions of mental health literacy, recognition of red flags, communication strategies and experiences with peer support. To protect participants’ wellbeing, legal guardians and adolescents will provide informed consent. Data will be analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach with support from NVivo software.
RESULTS:
Preliminary analysis is expected to reveal tensions between maintaining peers' confidentiality and ensuring safety, including dilemmas regarding when to involve an adult. Themes may also include distress related to how to communicate support without causing harm and hesitation to act due to insufficient knowledge. Anticipated findings include lack of action resulting from the minimisation of warning signs, privacy concerns and stigma.
CONCLUSIONS:
This project aims to integrate public health knowledge into adolescents’ experiences as peer supporters. Findings will be used to develop communication guidelines that reinforce mental health literacy, promote safe peer support practices and facilitate timely referral to professional help.
Adolescence is a vulnerable phase in which many health conditions first appear. It is a period of life characterised by significant physical, emotional and social changes; hence, conditions such as depression and anxiety frequently emerge. Peers are often the first point of contact 1, yet they report feeling unprepared to recognise warning signs or communicate support effectively. Insufficient mental health literacy , concerns about confidentiality, and stigma represent barriers to effective help provision 2. This project aims to capture adolescents’ perceptions and experiences as peer supporters, and to co-develop evidence-based guidelines that support adolescents’ wellbeing, facilitate pathways to professional care and reinforce safe peer support practices.
METHODS:
This project adopts a qualitative exploratory design using six focus groups. Approximately thirty to forty adolescents aged 14-17 will be recruited through schools and sports organisations in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. Focus group topics will centre on adolescents’ perceptions of mental health literacy, recognition of red flags, communication strategies and experiences with peer support. To protect participants’ wellbeing, legal guardians and adolescents will provide informed consent. Data will be analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach with support from NVivo software.
RESULTS:
Preliminary analysis is expected to reveal tensions between maintaining peers' confidentiality and ensuring safety, including dilemmas regarding when to involve an adult. Themes may also include distress related to how to communicate support without causing harm and hesitation to act due to insufficient knowledge. Anticipated findings include lack of action resulting from the minimisation of warning signs, privacy concerns and stigma.
CONCLUSIONS:
This project aims to integrate public health knowledge into adolescents’ experiences as peer supporters. Findings will be used to develop communication guidelines that reinforce mental health literacy, promote safe peer support practices and facilitate timely referral to professional help.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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