How can we strengthen mental health services in Swedish youth clinics? A health policy and systems study protocol

Introduction: Strengthening first-line mental healthcare services for youth remains a priority for the Swedish government. The government is currently investigating how different sectors involved can be strengthened, butevidence is scarce. Youth clinics play a key role in these discussions, being one of the most trusted services for youth. However, analysis of organisational functions andcoordination with other services is important to strengthen youth clinics’ role in first-line mental healthcare. This study investigates these challenges and aims to analysethe integration of mental healthcare within youth clinics to identify strategies to strengthen first-line mental healthcare for youth in Sweden. Methods and analysis: This study adopts a health policyand systems approach. In the first phase, a formative realist evaluation is conducted to ascertain what works in terms of integrating mental healthcare services within youth clinics, for what type of youth subpopulations and under what circumstances. National-level stakeholders will be interviewed to elicit the programme theory that explains how the intervention is supposed to work. The programme theory will then be tested in three–five cases. The cases will be comprised of youth clinics and their stakeholders. Quantitative and qualitative information will be gathered,including via visual methodologies and questionnaires. The second phase includes a concept mapping study, engaging stakeholders and young people to build consensuson strategies to strengthen the integration of menta lhealthcare into youth clinics