Towards an Understanding of the Concept of Recovery for Young People Experiencing Anxiety and Depression: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: The emotional health and well-being of young people is a key Government priority, yet there remains a high prevalence of emotional disorders within the adolescent population. Currently, relatively little is known about how young people understand their emotional distress and how they might achieve and maintain emotional health and well-being. Within the adult mental health arena, the concept of ‘recovery’ has emerged as a central framework shaping mental health services in the UK. To date, there are relatively few empirical studies exploring the concept of ‘recovery’ with young people. The present research aimed to provide a preliminary exploration of how the concept of ‘recovery’ may relate to young people experiencing anxiety and depression. Research question: How do children and young people conceptualise their experience of anxiety and/or depression? Method: A grounded theory approach was taken to exploring this issue. Interviews were conducted with seven young people (aged 15-16 years) who had used Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Results: A six-phase process model: Escalating distress'. Distancing self from the social world'. Feeling cut off from the social world'. Letting others in'. Battling emotions', and Re-engaging with the social world was constructed. Conclusion: The way in which young people conceptualised their experiences of anxiety and depression demonstrated considerable overlap with the concept of ‘recovery’ emerging from the adult mental health literature. Implications for policy and clinical practice include the use of community-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being for young people. Further research directions are highlighted