Supporting positive mental health development in adolescents with a group cognitive intervention

Background: Supporting positive mental health development in adolescents is an important school health concern, but there is a need to investigate the suitability of the interventions used.
Aim: To investigate the experiences of school health professionals in conducting a universal school-based program aimed at preventing depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Methods: Twenty-two school health professionals participated in four focus groups. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Findings: The overall theme was “striking a balance between strictly following the manual and meeting the students’ needs”. Three subthemes emerged: “doing good and sowing seeds for the future”, “working with insufficient tools”, and “personal development as a professional and as an individual”.
Conclusions: School health professionals conducting the programme found it valuable in a school setting, but considered support from the school administration essential.