Integrative community therapy for the promotion of mental health in adolescents: A quasi‐experimental study

Abstract

Background The numerous transformations that occur during adolescence render this phase more susceptible to mental health issues, and it is therefore important to conduct studies assessing interventions aimed at promoting mental health among this population. Aim To evaluate the effects of integrative community therapy (ICT) on the mental health of adolescents. Method This is a quasi‐experimental pre‐ and post‐test study with a quantitative approach. The participants were 127 adolescents aged 12–17 years, attending a public school in the southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, who completed a participant characterisation questionnaire and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Ten ICT sessions were conducted for each group, with an average participation of 12 adolescents per group. The recommended guidelines of the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence were used for the presentation of this study. Results In the pre‐intervention assessment, 70.1% of the adolescents presented a positive screening for mental health alteration. Females were more likely to present as borderline or abnormal based on the total SDQ score, and were more likely to report emotional and relationship issues with peers. It was evidenced that the ICT sessions contributed to a reduction in alterations in adolescent mental health in the domains of hyperactivity, emotional issues, conduct issues, relationship issues, and the total SDQ score. Conclusion Integrative community therapy was an effective intervention for reducing mental health alterations in adolescents. Worthy of note is the role of healthcare and education professionals in the promotion of adolescent health.