Promoting Youth Mental Wellbeing: A Photovoice Project with Adolescents and Young Adults in the Hospital Context

Federica Graziano (), Federica Toppino, Lisa Vennettillo, Giovanni Abbate Daga, Deborah Concas, Giulia Mazzone, Paola Quarello, Guido Teghille, Giulia Zucchetti and Chiara Davico
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Federica Graziano: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
Federica Toppino: Eating Disorders Center, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Lisa Vennettillo: Eating Disorders Center, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Giovanni Abbate Daga: Eating Disorders Center, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Deborah Concas: Pediatric Onco-Hematology Division, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Giulia Mazzone: Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Paola Quarello: Pediatric Onco-Hematology Division, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Guido Teghille: Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Giulia Zucchetti: Pediatric Onco-Hematology Division, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Chiara Davico: Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Given the importance of youth mental health for public policy, it is crucial to involve young people directly in participatory research to investigate their views and translate their demands into concrete actions. The aim of the study was to define the concept of mental wellbeing as perceived by a group of adolescent and young adult patients in two large hospitals in northwestern Italy and to find out, together with them, what institutions can do to promote youth wellbeing. Thirty-nine participants (13–25 years old, 90% female), divided into four groups, took part in a Photovoice workshop. Individual interviews were conducted with 21 participants and the transcripts were thematically analyzed. The photos were categorized into five themes: nature, traveling, passions and leisure, relationships, and animals. The definition of mental wellbeing can be traced back to eight themes: sharing experiences and emotions with others, calm and tranquility, personal fulfilment, sense of belonging, pleasant physical sensations, freedom and discovery, involvement and commitment, and happiness. The key recommendations for promoting mental wellbeing were providing information about mental health, tackling the stigma of mental illness, and providing psychological support in school and health services. The implications of these findings for policy makers involved in planning health services for young people are discussed.

Keywords: adolescents; young adults; wellbeing; mental health; Photovoice; participatory research; adolescent psychiatry; eating disorders; thematic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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