Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review
Purpose This study aims to identify and summarize existing qualitative empirical research on children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health. Methods A scoping review with a systematic search of the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PsychINFO was conducted. The search generated 9,864 studi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2501682 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850112248573329408 |
|---|---|
| author | Eva-Karin Gotting Laura Darcy Åsa Israelsson-Skogsberg Annelie J. Sundler Ewa Carlsson Lalloo |
| author_facet | Eva-Karin Gotting Laura Darcy Åsa Israelsson-Skogsberg Annelie J. Sundler Ewa Carlsson Lalloo |
| author_sort | Eva-Karin Gotting |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose This study aims to identify and summarize existing qualitative empirical research on children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health. Methods A scoping review with a systematic search of the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PsychINFO was conducted. The search generated 9,864 studies, which were screened by title, abstract, and full text. Results Forty articles were included comprising 826 children aged 8–19 years. The key findings were described in four themes: Identifying oneself with mental ill-health, Managing suffering and daily challenges, Seeking supportive and caring relationships and Navigating a complex school environment. Being identified with mental ill-health brought challenges for children’s everyday struggles. Their own coping strategies as well as supportive relationships with friends and adults were important. However, the balance between support and stress was complex. Conclusions Children have a desire to manage and comprehend their complex everyday lives of living with mental ill-health and wish for supported yet independent decision-making. Attitudes of friends, adults and professionals are important in providing understanding and non-judgemental support, valuable for children’s well-being. Open conversations about mental health and providing accessible, child-centred interventions based on the needs expressed by children are necessary. This study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the central role of children’s voices in matters of mental ill-health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-40704628690e4e8dbbe3bb5eb6860747 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-40704628690e4e8dbbe3bb5eb68607472025-08-20T02:37:25ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.25016822501682Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping reviewEva-Karin Gotting0Laura Darcy1Åsa Israelsson-Skogsberg2Annelie J. Sundler3Ewa Carlsson Lalloo4University of BoråsUniversity of BoråsUniversity of BoråsUniversity of BoråsUniversity of BoråsPurpose This study aims to identify and summarize existing qualitative empirical research on children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health. Methods A scoping review with a systematic search of the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PsychINFO was conducted. The search generated 9,864 studies, which were screened by title, abstract, and full text. Results Forty articles were included comprising 826 children aged 8–19 years. The key findings were described in four themes: Identifying oneself with mental ill-health, Managing suffering and daily challenges, Seeking supportive and caring relationships and Navigating a complex school environment. Being identified with mental ill-health brought challenges for children’s everyday struggles. Their own coping strategies as well as supportive relationships with friends and adults were important. However, the balance between support and stress was complex. Conclusions Children have a desire to manage and comprehend their complex everyday lives of living with mental ill-health and wish for supported yet independent decision-making. Attitudes of friends, adults and professionals are important in providing understanding and non-judgemental support, valuable for children’s well-being. Open conversations about mental health and providing accessible, child-centred interventions based on the needs expressed by children are necessary. This study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the central role of children’s voices in matters of mental ill-health.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2501682childrenmental ill-healthqualitative researchscoping reviewwell-beinglived experiences |
| spellingShingle | Eva-Karin Gotting Laura Darcy Åsa Israelsson-Skogsberg Annelie J. Sundler Ewa Carlsson Lalloo Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being children mental ill-health qualitative research scoping review well-being lived experiences |
| title | Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review |
| title_full | Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review |
| title_short | Children’s experiences of living with their mental ill-health - a scoping review |
| title_sort | children s experiences of living with their mental ill health a scoping review |
| topic | children mental ill-health qualitative research scoping review well-being lived experiences |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2501682 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evakaringotting childrensexperiencesoflivingwiththeirmentalillhealthascopingreview AT lauradarcy childrensexperiencesoflivingwiththeirmentalillhealthascopingreview AT asaisraelssonskogsberg childrensexperiencesoflivingwiththeirmentalillhealthascopingreview AT anneliejsundler childrensexperiencesoflivingwiththeirmentalillhealthascopingreview AT ewacarlssonlalloo childrensexperiencesoflivingwiththeirmentalillhealthascopingreview |