<p>Themes and sub-themes.</p>

Whilst empirical evidence is slowly becoming available on pathways to care for common mental disorders in the general population in Ghana and Zimbabwe, there is no study that specifically considered treatment pathways for young people.</p> <p>Objectives</p><p>This study explored trajectories used by young people (15–24 years) to access specialised mental healthcare in order to determine referral pathways for depression in Ghana and Zimbabwe.</p> <p>Methodology</p><p>This sub-analysis forms part of a larger formative, exploratory, descriptive qualitative study conducted within the Youth in Mind consortium.

The study engaged 172 participants including young people, healthcare providers, policymakers, faith-based and traditional healers, lay health workers, and school staff across Ghana (N = 105) and Zimbabwe (N = 67) who were sampled purposively and using snowball techniques until saturation was reached. Data were analysed using an iterative combination of inductive and deductive coding, followed by thematic analysis.</p> <p>Results</p><p>Diagnostic and treatment trajectory for young people's access to specialized mental healthcare are complex in both Ghana and Zimbabwe and punctuated with several barriers that culminate in delayed access to treatments.