Youthmed.info was developed entirely in-house by a volunteer group of clinical and academic pharmacists, consultant psychiatrists and nurses from the hospital, Saint John of God Community Services Lucena Clinic, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, and in collaboration with a focus group of young people via SpunOut, Ireland’s youth information and support platform.

Mental health medicines information for youth

Medicines information resources for youth in Ireland are lacking. The manufacturers’ patient information leaflet (PIL) content is dictated by legal requirements, focuses on the side-effects of the medicine as opposed to the benefits, and is targeted at adults. Additionally, access to PILs in the medicine box occurs too late in the process — after the medicine has been prescribed and dispensed. Patient information on mental health medicines is also available at choiceandmedication.org/ireland. This resource is available nationally and has a number of helpful leaflets and charts on mental health medicines. While the ‘quick information leaflets’ are designed with younger people in mind, they do not include information on how the medicine works and describe the licensed (or unlicensed) indications for the medicines, as opposed to symptoms that the medicines may help with. A panel of young people report that the current information on mental health medicines is difficult to navigate and it was hard to know what information was important. They also wanted to relate the use of the medicines to their everyday experiences.

Using social media platforms to engage with young people

The internet is the primary source of information for youth and adults alike. 95% of those aged 13-17 years have access to a smart phone and YouTube (95%), TikTok (67%), Instagram (62%) and SnapChat (59%) are the most commonly used platforms by those aged 13-17 years. Information videos available on these platforms, as opposed to leaflets, are therefore a more suitable medium for youth to receive information about mental health medicines. While the manufacturers’ PIL and the Choice and Medication website may be helpful for those who seek further information, the initial engagement on mental health medicines via an accessible medium like a video, is most appropriate.

  “ A panel of young people report that the current information on mental health medicines is difficult to navigate and it was hard to know what information was important.”  

What we did

Using software from canva.com — an online graphic design tool — we developed a pilot medicines information video on fluoxetine. BitMojis from SnapChat tell the story of a young person, Frankie, taking this mental health medicine. The process was repeated for olanzapine (Ollie) and methylphenidate (Max). The videos include information on how the medicines work; the symptoms they help with; how long they take to work; the most common side-effects; physical health monitoring associated with treatment; how to stop them when no longer needed; when to take them; how long they might be needed for; specific prescription requirements associated with the controlled medicines; warning signs to look out for; and where more information may be sought. We then engaged in an iterative review process where we listened to and acted upon feedback and comments from our expert panel of pharmacists, psychiatrists, nurses and young people (facilitated by SpunOut, Ireland’s youth information website). Using the agreed framework for the first three videos, we made a further five videos on sertraline, venlafaxine, risperidone, aripiprazole and lisdexamfetamine, which were also approved by the expert panel. We then developed a website at youthmed.info, where the resources are linked to a YouTube channel as well as signposting to further information via youthmed.info/more-info.

What’s next?

We have another six videos currently undergoing review including mirtazapine, quetiapine, atomoxetine, guanfacine, promethazine and melatonin. We are also working on a suite of videos for younger children (aged under 10), on methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, melatonin, fluoxetine and sertraline. This set will include a video for the child and a corresponding video for their parents/guardians. As well as this, we are putting together a suite of videos on side-effects (such as weight gain with antipsychotics), including why they happen; how likely they are to occur; risk factors; how the young person can stop or slow them; how the doctor can stop or slow them; long-term risks; and whether the side-effect will go away when the medicine is stopped.

Community pharmacists using the videos

Our first eight videos are live and can be accessed via our website youthmed.info, or by scanning the QRcode. We are also on Instagram @youthmed.info and TikTok @youth.med.info. According to one of our youth collaborators this new resource; “Empowers young people navigating mental health treatment with clear and accessible information. The videos provide a safe and empathetic space for us to understand our medications fully. The voice of young people matters most in their own healthcare, and youthmed.info helps them to stay informed and listened to each step of the way.” The resource may be used by community pharmacists to better engage with young people taking these medicines. This can be through using the language in the videos when talking to a young person face-to-face, or by signposting to the website where the videos, as well as further information, may be accessed.

Co-design and empowering youth

Co-design of information resources creates opportunities for shared understanding of the goals of medicine use and how associated risks are minimised. We hope that this new resource will empower young people to be actively involved in their own care and get the best possible benefit for recovery.

For more information, please visit youthmed.info.