Abstract

Theoretical models investigating the factors involved in the participation of teens in mental health care to date have not considered the mental health center as a public facility, and as such, the relationship it has with its physical surroundings and its impact on teens. To understand how the neighbourhood could influence teens to search for mental health service, we conducted a case study of three mental health-care centers in Chile (COSAM). Results showed that teens are generally unfamiliar with the COSAM. These centers can foster visibility to this demographic in a physical and a social way sustained by teen-friendly neighbourhoods.