Centering Youth Voices in Creating a Community-Driven Research Agenda for Upstream Suicide Prevention.

Abstract

Background: Responsive to local concerns about youth suicidality, we highlight an event hosted by a long-term community-engaged research partnership focused on upstream community interventions to promote youth mental wellness.

Objectives: This workshop aimed to listen for direction from youth and community about the implications of research results, including their hopes and priorities.

Methods: Approximately 60 community members and youth participated in a half-day world café style event that was co-designed with youth and a community advisory council, using critically reflective dialogue.

Lessons learned: Five priorities emerged, generating a robust agenda to guide a continuing program of responsive, community-engaged and youth-led research. Participants envisioned research serving to, in and of itself, promote resiliency among youth by virtue of its role in cultivating connection, belonging and positive social climates.

Conclusions: This half-day workshop provided a rapid, intensive platform for identifying community and youth priorities while strengthening connections among community partners.