An evaluation of the Danish headspace initiative to improve youth mental health and well-being
Introduction: Since 2013, headspace Denmark has been provided to young people between 12 and 25 years. The initiative is based on the Australian headspace model, but local adoptions have been made. In Denmark, headspace aims to promote youth mental health and well-being through free counselling and support, primarily provided by trained volunteers in the headspace centers, and a national chat center. Moreover, there is an aim of building bridges to other services, for instance in the mental health sector, and the headspace centers provide information and awareness about youth mental health through community engagement. Until now, few independent evaluations of the Danish headspace centers have been conducted.
Methods: The evaluation consists of 1) an effectiveness evaluation with a matched cohort study, where the exposed person (n=1500) in this case the young person receiving counselling sessions at headspace will be matched by using propensity scores to five unexposed individuals, using propensity score matching. 2) a cost-effectiveness evaluation with an economic analysis of the same cohort as in the effectiveness evaluation. 3) A process evaluation with predominantly qualitative methods to investigate the implementation of key activities of headspace, their mechanisms of change, and interactions with contextual factors.
Results: The results from the evaluation will contribute to scientific knowledge about the Danish headspace centers` effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, implementation, and mechanisms of impact. Preliminary results are expected in Ultimo 2024.
Discussion: Because headspace centers have achieved national endorsement and are fully implemented in 30 municipalities in Denmark, there is an urgent need for research that supports the document of the effectiveness of the services. Results from the evaluation can also add new knowledge targeted at international youth mental health promotion initiatives.