The aim of this narrative review is to examine the most prevalent multiple or interconnecting risks of mental health problems that have been identified in previous reviews of the literature and to examine those most prevalent for children and young people. Overall, ten databases were searched for published literature reviews, and from 1,556 unique hits, 91 reviews examining individual risks were included, with 35 reviews examining interconnecting risks. The findings suggest that interpersonal connection plays a central role in interconnecting risks, as indicated by the number of interconnections between social groups, interpersonal, parental relationships and family cohesion with other risk themes. Family and systemic approaches have clear value in supporting young people by enabling the development of a secure relational foundation on which to build future protective interpersonal connections.
Practitioner Points
Interpersonal connection plays a central role in interconnecting risks, as indicated by the number of interconnections between social groups, interpersonal, parental relationships and family cohesion with other risk themes.
Interventions that support young people to build and maintain interpersonal connections when experiencing individual and interconnecting risks may have important consequences for the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems.
Family and systemic approaches have clear value in supporting young people by enabling the development of a secure relational foundation on which to build future protective interpersonal connections.