Empowering young adults in disadvantaged communities to promote mental health among their peers

Abstract

Youth living in disadvantaged communities such as Mamelodi, a peri-urban settlement in the City of Tshwane in South Africa, have limited access to mental health services. Community-based interventions to promote mental health can play a crucial role in such contexts. This research aimed to empower young adults to promote mental health through peer-led interventions. Using action research, salient issues were identified to effect social change through collaboration. The local radio station and community organisations assisted with the recruitment of young adults (18–24 years) through snowball sampling. Seven out-of-school young adults joined the study as peer leaders. Eight project meetings were held between June and December 2023 to plan and implement an intervention aimed at improving the mental health literacy of their peers. During an interview at the community radio station, the peer leaders discussed the mental health challenges of youth. They created a video on depression and suicide, and a pamphlet containing information on mental health support, available on the community radio station’s Facebook page and their personal social media accounts. A large number of viewers accessed this information. Recordings of project sessions and a focus group discussion with the peer leaders were analysed using thematic analysis to explore their experiences of the project. Participation in the project contributed to the personal growth of the peer leaders, particularly the development of competence, confidence, and personal well-being, and a sense of psychological empowerment that enabled them to contribute to the lives of their peers. Their peers also benefitted, as they received mental health information and social support from the peer leaders. The research emphasises the value of peer-led interventions as a strategy to promote mental health literacy and emotional support among young people.