Adolescence and mental health from the perspective of Primary Healthcare professionals

Considering the findings of studies regarding the vulnerability of adolescents to psychic suffering and the lack of research focusing on this group, this qualitative study assesses the provision of psychosocial care to adolescents undergoing psychic suffering from the perspective of Primary Healthcare professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 professionals. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts showed a number of weaknesses in adolescents' access to primary care services and referrals of cases of psychic suffering to specialist services. The findings show that the health professionals recognize the importance of timely sectoral/intersectoral actions. The study advances by reinforcing the need to implement adolescent mental health care, which considers the potency of ABS, under the voice of the professionals involved.