Mental health difficulties are increasingly common in adolescents. Recent studies suggest that some teenagers worry about others wanting to cause them harm (paranoid concerns). These worries are likely to have a negative effect how they feel, their friendships, and how they are getting on at school.
Award: Residency
Academic: Dr Jessica Kingston
Department: Psychology
Project: Paranoia in Adolescents
Partner: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Context and Underpinning Research
Mental health difficulties are a growing concern among adolescents. A particularly alarming aspect of this is the increase in paranoid concerns among teenagers – fears that others may intend to harm them. These worries can profoundly affect their emotional wellbeing, social relationships, and academic performance. Surprisingly, though these fears are commonly reported by young people with mental health issues, they are infrequently addressed or treated by health services.
Residency Overview
This residency seeks to better understand and mitigate concerns about paranoia in young people. I am spending 12 days working at the Trust to attend meetings to organise a series of knowledge exchange activities where we collaborate closely with young people, their parents or carers, healthcare professionals, and school staff. I will also be trained in imagery-based interventions for paranoia. The aim is to develop a nuanced understanding of paranoid concerns in adolescents. This collaborative approach ensures that the perspectives and experiences of those most affected are central to our understanding and response strategies.
Anticipated Outcomes and Impact
By gaining a tailored understanding of paranoid concerns in young people, we aim to lay the groundwork for more effective interventions. Our goal is to not only alleviate these worries in the short term but also to reduce the likelihood of adolescents developing more serious mental health issues in the future. Through our collaborative efforts, we hope to bring about a change in how health services address the mental health needs of young people, especially concerning paranoid thoughts.
The Role of Residency Funding
The residency funding supports the organisation of knowledge exchange activities and facilitates this collaboration between Royal Holloway, the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and other stakeholders.
Next Steps: Collaboration and Development
Our immediate focus is on establishing effective collaboration among the various stakeholders. This includes organising workshops and discussion forums with young people, their carers, healthcare professionals, and educators. These activities are designed to gather insights and experiences that will inform our understanding and guide the development of targeted interventions.
Get Involved
We encourage all those interested in adolescent mental health to engage with our project. Your support, whether as a participant, a healthcare professional, an educator, or simply someone who cares about young people's mental health, is invaluable. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of young people struggling with paranoid concerns, helping them to lead happier, healthier lives.
