This study aimed to assess the mental health needs and risk behaviors of adolescents attending an afterschool life-skills skateboarding program, to evaluate the perceived benefits of the program, and to identify potential modifications required to meet the identified needs. Program participants were from three gang- and poverty-affected urban communities in Cape Town, South Africa. Seventy-six adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years old (83% male) completed a self-report survey, and 24 adolescents and 19 key influencers participated in in-depth interviews and focus groups. Descriptive analyses were conducted on survey data and a framework approach was used to analyze qualitative data. 72% of the adolescents reported symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, 66% had experienced food insecurity, 45% had been physically abused at home, 47% had been bullied, and 59% had used alcohol. Benefits of the program included experiencing a sense of belonging to a skateboarding subculture, protection from gang recruitment and community violence, physical and emotional benefits of exercise, mentors as positive role models, and learning life skills. Recommendations to improve the program were to include information on depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and grief, and to include stress management and emotion regulation skills.

本研究旨在评估参加课后生活技能滑板计划的青少年的心理健康需求和风险行为，评估该计划的感知好处，并确定满足确定需求所需的潜在修改。项目参与者来自南非开普敦的三个受帮派和贫困影响的城市社区。76 名 10 至 19 岁的青少年（83% 为男性）完成了自我报告调查，24 名青少年和 19 名关键影响者参加了深度访谈和焦点小组。对调查数据进行描述性分析，并使用框架方法分析定性数据。72% 的青少年报告有中度至重度焦虑和/或抑郁症状，66% 经历过粮食不安全，45% 曾在家里受到身体虐待，47% 曾被欺负，59% 曾酗酒。该计划的好处包括体验对滑板亚文化的归属感、免受帮派招募和社区暴力、锻炼带来的身心益处、作为积极榜样的导师以及学习生活技能。改进计划的建议包括有关抑郁、焦虑、自杀念头和悲伤的信息，以及压力管理和情绪调节技能。