scholarly journals Young voices in mental health care: Exploring children’s and adolescents’ service experiences and preferences

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Persson ◽  
Curt Hagquist ◽  
Daniel Michelson

The development of ‘youth-friendly’ services has become a priority across a wide range of health-care contexts. However, relatively few studies have specifically examined users’ experiences of, and preferences for, child and adolescent mental health care. The current study investigated young service users’ views of outpatient and community mental health clinics in Sweden, based on two data sources. First, focus group interviews were conducted with seven children and adolescents (aged 10–18 years) to explore both positive and negative experiences of mental health care. Second, written suggestions about specific service improvements were obtained from 106 children and adolescents. Qualitative content analysis revealed three overarching themes: ‘Accessibility’, ‘Being heard and seen’ and ‘Usefulness of sessions’. Young people’s recommendations for improving practice included more convenient appointment times, offered in welcoming settings; opportunities to communicate more openly with clinical staff, enabling sensitive discussion of mental health and wider personal issues; and more structured treatments that offer greater credibility and relevance to young people’s mental health and developmental needs. Young people also discussed being compelled by parents and school professionals to engage in treatment. Attending to young people’s preferences must be a priority in order to overcome ambivalence about session attendance, and enhance treatment participation and outcomes.

2018 ◽  

This indispensable resource provides vital guidance for integrating mental health care into your everyday primary care practice. https://shop.aap.org/mental-health-care-of-children-and-adolescents-a-guide-for-primary-care-clinicians-paperback/


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 987-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Ebrahimi ◽  
Naeimeh Seyedfatemi ◽  
Hossein Namdar Areshtanab ◽  
Fatemeh Ranjbar ◽  
Graham Thornicroft ◽  
...  

The broad spectrum of problems caused by caring for a patient with mental illness imposes a high burden on family caregivers. This can affect how they cope with their mentally ill family members. Identifying caregivers’ experiences of barriers to coping is necessary to develop a program to help them overcome these challenges. This qualitative content analysis study explored barriers impeding family caregivers’ ability to cope with their relatives diagnosed with severe mental illness (defined here as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, and bipolar affective disorders). Sixteen family caregivers were recruited using purposive sampling and interviewed using a semi-structured in-depth interview method. Data were analyzed by a conventional content analytic approach. Findings consisted of four major categories: the patient’s isolation from everyday life, incomplete recovery, lack of support by the mental health care system, and stigmatization. Findings highlight the necessity of providing support for caregivers by the mental health care delivery service system.


2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (S2) ◽  
pp. s279-s284 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ferre Navarete ◽  
I. Palanca

AbstractAimTo describe principles and characteristics of mental health care in Madrid.MethodBased on existing data, service provision, number of professionals working in services, funding arrangements, pathways intocare, user/carer involvement and specific issues are reported.ResultsIn Madrid, mental health services are organized into 11 zones/areas, divided into 36 districts, where there is a mental healthoutpatient service with a multi-disciplinary team. Home treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation services have been developed. Specialist programmes exist for vulnerable client groups, including Children and Adolescents, Addiction/Alcohol and Older People. The Madrid Mental Health Plan (2003–2008) is regarded as the key driver in implementing service improvement and increased mental health and well-being in Madrid. It has a meant global budget increase of more than 10% for mental health services. Results of the first 2 years are: an increase in mental health staff employed (17%), four new hospitalization units, 50% increase in places for children and adolescents Day Hospitals, 62 new beds in long care residential units, development of specific programmes for the homeless and gender-based violence, a significant investment in information systems (450 new computers) and development of best practice and operational guidelines. Mental health system was put to the test with Madrid's March 11th terrorist attack. A Special Mental Health Plan for Affected people was developed.DiscussionUnlike some European countries, public mental health service is the main heath care provider. There are no voluntary agenciescollaborating with mental health care. Continuity of care and coordination between all mental health resources is essential in service delivery. Increased demand of care for minor psychiatric disorders, children and adolescent mental health care, and implementation of rehabilitation and residential facilities for chronic patients are outstanding challenges similar to those in other European capitals. Overall, the mental health system had successfully coped with last year's increased care demand after March 11th terrorist attack in Madrid.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 587-587
Author(s):  
P. Weiser ◽  
T. Becker ◽  
R. Kilian

IntroductionPeople with a mental disorder are at increased risk for physical illness and therefore their risk of premature death is raised. An unhealthy lifestyle, living conditions, medication side-effects and a lack of physical health monitoring are regarded as the main causes of high somatic morbidity. But up to now only little research has addressed the physical co-morbidity in mentally ill. At present, there are no specific policies to improve the health status of residents in mental health care facilities.Objectives / methodsAgainst this background a multi-disciplinary network of experts from 15 European countries was set up. Working together with researchers, stakeholders, professionals, networks, practitioners, and relevant organizations, the HELPS network developed a “physical health promotion toolkit” for routine application in a wide range of mental health care facilities across Europe. The HELPS toolkit intends to empower patients and staff to identify the most relevant risk factors in their specific context and subsequently select the most appropriate action out of a range of defined health promoting interventions. In doing so, the toolkit takes into account the heterogeneity of mental disorders, the high number of somatic problems, aspects of lifestyle, environment, medical care system, personal goals of patients and their motivation for health behavior.Results / conclusionsThe poster presents the HELPS toolkit. It illustrates the individual components of the tool and the processes of its implementation and evaluation. First results of the pilot study concerning the feasibility of the toolkit will be presented and discussed.


Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 07 (06) ◽  
pp. 696-703
Author(s):  
Máguida Gomes da Silva ◽  
Ana Ruth Macêdo Monteiro ◽  
Katyuscia Morais Barros ◽  
Sarah Maria de Sousa Feitoza ◽  
Violante Augusta Batista Braga ◽  
...  

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