2026-10-15T06:30:35Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/32995259 2026-09-08T14:13:37Z category_27703 portal_753 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

How young people understand and navigate mental health challenges Keabetswe Mfelang (24380552) Counselling, wellbeing and community services Mental health Mental health challenges Young people Mental well-being Mental well-being awareness Youth mental health South African township youth SDG 3 Good health and wellbeing SDG 10 Reduced inequalities <p dir="ltr">This study addressed a critical gap by foregrounding the voices of young people in one of the townships at Tshwane, to explore how they understand and navigate mental health challenges. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and employing Reflexive Thematic Analysis, qualitative data were collected from eight (8) young adults aged 19–23 to systematically search their appraisal of stressors, coping strategies and engagement with both formal and informal support systems. The study identified six interconnected themes that shape youth mental health. (1) Familiarity with and comprehension of mental well-being revealed uneven understandings, often constrained by stigma and limited psychoeducation, with schools, peers and faith groups serving as key information sources. (2) Perspectives on factors leading to youth mental wellness struggles highlighted poverty, unemployment, violence, family instability and substance use as intersecting drivers of distress. (3) Perceived notions and evaluative stance on mental health showed ambivalence, with some youth recognising its importance and others viewing it through stigmatised or spiritual lenses, often influenced by trust and peer perceptions. (4) Coping strategies and support systems showcase reliance on informal networks that foster resilience but cannot replace professional care, alongside the coexistence of adaptive and maladaptive behaviours. (5) Constraints on psychosocial service delivery revealed systemic barriers such as hospital-centric provision, underfunding, stigma and affordability challenges. Finally, (6) Youth's suggestions for integrated mental well-being awareness emphasised the need for culturally resonant, youth-led initiatives embedded in schools, communities and faith spaces to normalise dialogue and dismantle stigma. Collectively, these themes highlight that youth mental health is relational and socio-structural, requiring integrated, community-based strategies that centre youth voices and bridge formal and informal support systems.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p> 2026-09-08T14:13:37Z Dataset Dataset 10.25403/UPresearchdata.32995259.v2 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/How_young_people_understand_and_navigate_mental_health_challenges/32995259 CC BY 4.0