Co-production of Recommendations to Improve Mental Health Services for Youth in Peru: Analysis of Workshops with Professionals and Service Users

Objective Co-produce recommendations with professionals and users to improve mental health services for young people and adolescents in Lima, Peru. Methods We conducted 4 co-production workshops with 30 users and health professionals from 2 primary health care centres and 3 Community Mental Health Centres located in Lima, Peru. Their recommendations were organised into four categories: centres’ resources, health personnel, challenges in care access and continuity, guidelines and health service packages. A final list was compiled by identifying commonalities between suggestions. Results The recommendations included guaranteeing users’ privacy during sessions, training the staff to deliver efficient and empathetic care, promoting and disseminating mental health services options, and prioritising treatment adherence. While professionals suggested changes related to the administrative aspects of health facilities, users recommended improvements in the interpersonal treatment received during care. Conclusion Engaging both users and professionals allows for the identification of valuable recommendations to improve access to and the quality of mental health services for young people. Future efforts should focus on developing sustainable strategies to address the needs of key stakeholders.