Mapping Mental Health Resources for Young People in the Colombian Pacific Region

The original study was formed of three interlinked Work Packages (WPs). These were theoretically underpinned by ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979):

• WP1 – macro level mapping of service provision in Colombia through documentary analysis, interviews with policy makers and analysis of national datasets;
• WP2 – 3 Pacific region case studies including 98 interviews with community organisations, schools, international organisations and state institutions to understand how community care is provided to young people who were directly or indirectly affected by conflict in the Pacific Region of Colombia;
• WP3 – co-produced maps of young people’s mental health and participatory artefacts including murals, gardens and a play were developed in one Pacific Region city to understand young people’s experiences and needs in relation to mental health.

We obtained additional research funding for a fourth Work Package to continue our participatory work:

• WP4 – Development of a mapping tool to understand children and young people’s connections and support systems relative to their local context.

Looking at the national level, we found that policy supports the whole population rather than those who were victims of conflict. In addition, mental health care is not equally distributed in Colombia. As a result, most services are concentrated in the five largest cities of the country, neglecting some of the poorest departments like Chocó (Pacific region). In the Pacific region specifically, we found that community organisations and schools play an important role in addressing youth mental health needs. They did this in multiple ways, for example through psychosocial strategies like the creation of safe spaces for listening, or using artistic and cultural practices. Although international organisations and state institutions facilitate access to formal psychological therapy, service provision remains scarce. This means that many young people cannot access help when they need it. Through a mapping exercise with young people, we developed a better understanding of the social tissue of mental health, as well as issues like arts, culture and nature. Together with young people, we co-created cultural artefacts (play, murals) about mental health and safe spaces connected to cultural traditions (community gardens with traditional plants).

Our research showed that the mental health of the entire population is affected directly and indirectly by conflict, through intergenerational and transgenerational impacts. This means that existing policy frameworks for youth mental health and ways of delivering support need adapting for conflict and post-conflict contexts. Although specific services are needed for certain population groups, you also need ways for whole communities to heal. This requires better connections and relationships between state structures, civil society initiatives and school-based approaches to addressing mental health issues with young people, through formalised youth mental health care pathways.

Principal Investigators

Professor Paul Jackson (University of Birmingham, PI)

Professor Juan Pablo Aranguren Romero (Universidad de Los Andes, PI)

Co-applicants

Dr Sarah-Jane Fenton (University of Birmingham, co-applicant)

Dr Mónica Pinilla-Roncancio (Universidad de Los Andes, co-applicant)

Professor German Casas (Universidad de Los Andes, co-applicant)

Dr Sanne Weber (Radboud University, co-applicant)

Project team

Dr Francy Carranza (University of Birmingham)

Dr Louis Monroy Santander (University of Birmingham)

Juan Roberto Rengifo Gutierrez (Universidad de Los Andes)

Sergio Daniel Arrieta Vera (Universidad de Los Andes)

Karina Martinez Rozo (Universidad de Los Andes)

Economic and Social Research Council, ODA award - ES/V013297/1 (UK) (2020-2023)

Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Colombia) (2019-2022)

University of Birmingham QR award (2024)

Partner organisations:

Heartland Alliance (Colombia)

Asinch (Colombia)

WP1

Fenton, SJ., Gutiérrez, J.R.R., Pinilla-Roncancio, M. et al. Macro level system mapping of the provision of mental health services to young people living in a conflict context in Colombia. BMC Health Serv Res 24, 138 (2024).

WP2

Weber, S., Carranza, F., Rengifo, J.R. et al. Mapping mental health care services for children and youth population in Colombia’s Pacific: potential for boundary spanning between community and formal services. Int J Ment Health Syst 18, 9 (2024).

Forthcoming

Aranguren Romero, J.P., Arrieta, S., Carranza, F., Weber, S., Gutiérrez, J.R., Martínez, K., Rengifo Pinilla-Roncancio, M., Casas, G., Monroy-Santander, L., Fenton, S-J, Jackson, P., Understanding community-based practice to promote the psychosocial wellbeing of young people in violent contexts in Buenaventura, Colombia – Under review

Juan Pablo Aranguren Romero; Sergio Daniel Arrieta Vera; Francy Lorena Carranza Franco; Juan Roberto Rengifo Gutiérrez; Karina Martínez Rozo; Mónica Pinilla; Sanne Weber; Germán Casas; Sarah Jane Fenton; Paul Jackson Contribuciones de las organizaciones comunitarias al bienestar emocional en el Pacífico Colombiano – Under review

WP3

Forthcoming

Weber, S., Carranza, F., Camilo Romero, C., Arrieta, S., Martínez, K., Rengifo Gutiérrez, J.R., Pinilla-Roncancio, M., Fenton, S-J, Casas, G., Jackson, P., Aranguren Romero, J.P., Growing up amidst violence: Mapping mental health ecologies with young people on Colombia’s Pacific Coast – Under review

WP4

Forthcoming

Fenton, S-J, Carranza, F., Weber, S., Monroy Santander, L., Pinilla-Roncancio, M., Casas, G., Aranguren Romero, J.P., Jackson, P. Understanding the social tissue of mental health: developing a mapping tool for use with children and young people