“No one knows I exist”: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of young people and staff in UK mental health hospitals

Supporting youth mental health is a priority; currently, one in 10 young people experience a mental health disorder. Accordingly, integrated youth health services are a focus for service development both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Less attention is given to inpatient settings and the experiences of young people who use them. This in-depth qualitative study aimed to understand the experiences of people aged 16–25 years, admitted to inpatient mental health settings, and the experiences of staff caring for them. Individual interviews with seven inpatient young people and three focus groups with staff (N = 27) were conducted. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology with a polyvocal design was used. Young people reported how the impact of restriction, lack of inclusion, information, and transparency affected their experiences. Relationships with other young people and staff were important while shared experiences were especially salient. Staff identified difficulties of working within a system divided into separate services while attempting to work flexibly with young people. Future practice needs to enhance relational, inclusive, and flexible working practices to optimize care delivery.