This study will evaluate Ung Arena, a free, low-threshold service where young people can receive help and support in addressing various mental health and social challenges.
Ung Arena is a free, low-threshold service established in several municipalities across Norway, where young people can attend without an appointment or referral to receive help and support in addressing various mental health and social challenges.
This study will assess how Ung Arena operates and whether the service is beneficial for youth struggling with mental health and social problems.
The evaluation is carried out in collaboration with researchers, several municipalities, the young people themselves, and seven Ung Arena centres (Bergen, Bjørnafjorden, Bø in Midt-Telemark, Tønsberg, Oslo West, Oslo City Centre, and Oslo South). The aim is to generate knowledge that can help improve and further develop Ung Arena to meet young people’s needs.
The evaluation of Ung Arena comprises a process evaluation with qualitative interviews of Ung Arena staff, municipal leadership, and young people who have visited Ung Arena; an impact evaluation using quantitative survey data from youth who visit Ung Arena; and a cost–benefit analysis using registry data.
The knowledge derived from the evaluation will inform municipalities’ efforts to provide high-quality health services for young people with mental health or social challenges. It will also be used to develop guidelines and recommendations for how Ung Arena can be further developed and potentially expanded to additional municipalities in Norway.
NOVA, represented by Janikke Solstad Vedeler, is a partner. The same applies to Andreea Alecu at SIFO.
Financing: Research Council of Norway (RCN) – Grant ID 355172.
