A Volunteer-Based Counselling Service for Youth Mental Health in Denmark: A Qualitative Multi-Stakeholder Study of the Implementation of Headspace

Abstract Background: Mental health problems among young people are a major public health concern. Youth-centred, health-promotive, and preventive approaches are needed. headspace Denmark provides a low-threshold, volunteer-based mental health service embedded in civil society however, evidence on volunteer-driven, non-clinical models remains limited. Purpose: This study investigates how counselling, bridging support to social and health services, and outreach activities are implemented across local headspace centres in Denmark. Methods: A qualitative design guided by a pre‑established program theory. Data, including interviews, observations, and documents, were collected from counsellors, cross‑centre management, and embedded professionals, and were analysed thematically to understand how activities were carried out and supported across diverse local settings. Results: Counselling was delivered through structured yet flexible, youth‑friendly conversations emphasizing collaboration and confidentiality. Bridging support relied on relational trust, equality, and hands‑on guidance, though referrals to external services remained challenging. Outreach activities promoted mental health and reduced stigma through creative, youth‑oriented formats. Across activities, supportive organizational structures—including targeted volunteer recruitment, training, supervision, pre- and debriefing routines, and partnerships—were essential to sustaining consistent practice. Conclusion: Counselling, bridging support, and outreach were implemented consistently in youth-centred, flexible, and relational ways across local centres, supported by strong structures for recruitment, training, supervision, and cross-sector collaboration. Important areas for further development include strengthening bridging pathways, supporting volunteer retention, refining outreach practices, and implementing systematic measures of youth and volunteer satisfaction. The findings also point to the potential value of developing a fidelity scale tailored to the Danish model to support quality assurance and guide future implementation.