scholarly journals Primary healthcare and school health service utilisation by adolescents and young adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoife M. Doyle ◽  
Lerato Mchunu ◽  
Olivier Koole ◽  
Sandile Mthembu ◽  
Siphephelo Dlamini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Service ◽  
School Health ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Health Registers ◽  
Youth Friendly

Abstract Background Young people aged 10–24 years are a vulnerable group with poor health service access relative to other populations. Recent South African initiatives, the She Conquers campaign, the Integrated School Health Policy and the Adolescent & Youth Health Policy, include a focus on improving the breadth and quality of youth-friendly health service delivery. However, in some settings the provision and impact of scaled-up youth friendly health services has been limited indicating a gap between policy and implementation. In this study we reviewed existing sources of data on health service utilisation to answer the following question: ‘What health conditions do young people present with and what services do they receive at public health clinics, mobile clinics and school health services?’ Methods We conducted a retrospective register review in three purposively selected primary healthcare clinics (PHCC), one mobile clinic, and one school health team in Hlabisa and Mtubatuba sub-districts of uMkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The focus was service utilisation for any reason by 10–24 year olds. We also conducted descriptive analysis of pre-existing data on service utilisation by young people available from the District Health Information System for all 17 PHCC in the study sub-districts. Results Three quarters of 4121 recorded young person visits in the register review were by females, and 40% of all young person visits were by females aged 20–24 years. The most common presenting conditions were HIV-related, antenatal care, family planning, general non-specific complaints and respiratory problems (excluding TB). There were relatively few recorded consultations for other common conditions affecting young people such as mental health and nutritional problems. Antibiotics, antiretrovirals, contraceptives, vitamins/supplements, and analgesics were most commonly provided. Routine health registers recorded limited information, were often incomplete and/or inconsistent, and age was not routinely recorded. Conclusions Measuring morbidity and service provision are fundamental to informing policy and promoting responsive health systems. Efforts should be intensified to improve the quality and completeness of health registers, with attention to the documentation of important, and currently poorly documented, young people’s health issues such as mental health and nutrition.

The internet as a setting for mental health service utilisation by young people

2010 ◽  
Vol 192 (S11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane M Burns ◽  
Tracey A Davenport ◽  
Lauren A Durkin ◽  
Georgina M Luscombe ◽  
Ian B Hickie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Service Utilisation ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Service Utilisation

scholarly journals Can We Build ‘Somewhere That You Want to Go’? Conducting Collaborative Mental Health Service Design with New Zealand’s Young People

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 9983
Author(s):  
Jessica Stubbing ◽  
Kerry Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Specific Care ◽  
Youth Friendly ◽  
The Ideal

Globally, young people are at high risk of mental health problems, but have poor engagement with services. Several international models have emerged seeking to address this gap by providing youth-specific care designed in collaboration with young people. In this study, 94 young people in New Zealand participated in collaborative workshops exploring their vision of an ideal mental health service. Participants were aged 16–25. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify seven themes. These describe the ideal mental health service for these young people as comfortable, accessible, welcoming, embedded in the community, holistic, adaptable, and youth-focused. In addition to describing how services might better serve the needs of youth, this article outlines a method for adapting international principles for youth-friendly care to the specific needs of a population of young people. This article provides supporting evidence that services should consider how to improve their engagement with youth through collaboration with local populations of young people.

scholarly journals Who is in the transition gap? Transition from CAMHS to AMHS in the Republic of Ireland

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. McNicholas ◽  
M. Adamson ◽  
N. McNamara ◽  
B. Gavin ◽  
M. Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Transition Boundary ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Service Need

ObjectiveThe ITRACK study explored the process and predictors of transition between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) in the Republic of Ireland.MethodFollowing ethical approval, clinicians in each of Ireland’s four Health Service Executive (HSE) areas were contacted, informed about the study and were invited to participate. Clinicians identified all cases who had reached the transition boundary (i.e. upper age limit for that CAMHS team) between January and December 2010. Data were collected on clinical and socio-demographic details and factors that informed the decision to refer or not refer to the AMHS, and case notes were scrutinised to ascertain the extent of information exchanged between services during transition.ResultsA total of 62 service users were identified as having crossed the transition boundary from nine CAMHS [HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster (n=40, 66%), HSE South (n=18, 30%), HSE West (n=2, 3%), HSE Dublin North (n=1, 2%)]. The most common diagnoses were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; n=19, 32%), mood disorders (n=16, 27%), psychosis (n=6, 10%) and eating disorders (n=5, 8%). Forty-seven (76%) of those identified were perceived by the CAMHS clinician to have an ‘on-going mental health service need’, and of these 15 (32%) were referred, 11 (23%) young people refused and 21 (45%) were not referred, with the majority (12, 57%) continuing with the CAMHS for more than a year beyond the transition boundary. Young people with psychosis were more likely to be referred [χ2 (2, 46)=8.96, p=0.02], and those with ADHD were less likely to be referred [χ2 (2, 45)=8.89, p=0.01]. Being prescribed medication was not associated with referral [χ2 (2, 45)=4.515, p=0.11]. In referred cases (n=15), there was documented evidence of consent in two cases (13.3%), inferred in another four (26.7%) and documented preparation for transition in eight (53.3%). Excellent written communication (100%) was not supported by face-to-face planning meetings (n=2, 13.3%), joint appointments (n=1, 6.7%) or telephone conversations (n=1, 6.7%) between corresponding clinicians.ConclusionsDespite perceived on-going mental health (MH) service need, many young people are not being referred or are refusing referral to the AMHS, with those with ADHD being the most affected. CAMHS continue to offer on-going care past the transition boundary, which has resource implications. Further qualitative research is warranted to understand, in spite of perceived MH service need, the reason for non-referral by the CAMHS clinicians and refusal by the young person.

Youth mental health competencies in regional general practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 103985622097005
Author(s):  
Oliver Smith ◽  
Jessica Bergmann ◽  
Ulrich Schall
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Problem ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Hunter Region

Objective: General practitioners (GPs) are key health professionals for referrals to mental health specialists. Youth mental health issues are particularly challenging, requiring a competent assessment and understanding of appropriate referral pathways. We surveyed local GPs about their understanding of youth mental health problems and needs to competently look after young patients. Methods: GPs working in the Hunter region were contacted via email, fax and post over a 6-month period in 2019. Results: Seventy-five GPs participated. They reported 577 of 1698 (34%) of young people seen 2 weeks prior to being surveyed presented with a mental health problem. Predominantly, referrals were to private practice psychologists and Headspace. Almost a third (31%) reported having limited understanding of ‘at-risk mental state’ and are ‘not always comfortable’ when facing a young person with a mental health problem. Nearly all (95%) expressed interest in attending specialised training. GPs identified treatment costs, scarce access to psychiatrists and limited patient engagement as the main obstacles to help young people. Conclusions: Effective treatment of a mental health problem relies on early identification. GPs are seeing young people on a regular basis but don’t feel well equipped for this task and are keen to up-skill, which needs to be addressed by targeted training.

scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on the economy and mental health of young people in South Africa: opportunities for strengthening social protection programmes by integrating mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204
Author(s):  
Alejandra Álvarez-Iglesias ◽  
Emily Garman ◽  
Crick Lund
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Young People ◽  
Child Support ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Employment Education

The majority of COVID-19 cases in sub-Saharan Africa are found in South Africa, where one third of young people are not in employment, education or training. As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 virus spread, an increasing volume of studies are analysing and trying to predict the consequences of the pandemic on the economy and on physical and mental health. This article describes the economic and psychological impact of COVID-19 in South Africa’s youth specifically, the efforts made to tackle these issues, and the opportunities to integrate mental health into the country’s social protection measures, such as the Child Support Grant.

scholarly journals Is the use of accurate psychiatric labels associated with intentions and beliefs about responses to mental illness in a friend? Findings from two national surveys of Australian youth

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. H. Yap ◽  
N. J Reavley ◽  
A. F. Jorm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Community Education ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
Similar Survey ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Using Data

Aims.An inherent prerequisite to mental health first-aid (MHFA) is the ability to identify that there is a mental health problem, but little is known about the association between psychiatric labelling and MHFA. This study examined this association using data from two national surveys of Australian young people.Methods.This study involved a national telephonic survey of 3746 Australian youth aged 12–25 years in 2006, and a similar survey in 2011 with 3021 youth aged 15–25 years. In both surveys, respondents were presented with a vignette portraying depression, psychosis or social phobia in a young person. The 2011 survey also included depression with suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic stress disorder. Respondents were asked what they thought was wrong with the person, and reported on their first-aid intentions and beliefs, which were scored for quality of the responses.Results.Accurate labelling of the mental disorder was associated with more helpful first-aid intentions and beliefs across vignettes, except for the intention to listen non-judgementally in the psychosis vignette.Conclusions.Findings suggest that community education programmes that improve accurate psychiatric label use may have the potential to improve the first-aid responses young people provide to their peers, although caution is required in the case of psychosis.

The health service contact patterns of people with psychotic and non-psychotic forms of severe mental illness in New South Wales, Australia: A record-linkage study

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742110314
Author(s):  
Rachael C Cvejic ◽  
Preeyaporn Srasuebkul ◽  
Adrian R Walker ◽  
Simone Reppermund ◽  
Julia M Lappin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
New South ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
South Wales

Objective: To describe and compare the health profiles and health service use of people hospitalised with severe mental illness, with and without psychotic symptoms. Methods: We conducted a historical cohort study using linked administrative datasets, including data on public hospital admissions, emergency department presentations and ambulatory mental health service contacts in New South Wales, Australia. The study cohort comprised 169,306 individuals aged 12 years and over who were hospitalised at least once with a mental health diagnosis between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2014. Of these, 63,110 had a recorded psychotic illness and 106,196 did not. Outcome measures were rates of hospital, emergency department and mental health ambulatory service utilisation, analysed using Poisson regression. Results: People with psychotic illnesses had higher rates of hospital admission (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.26; 95% confidence interval [1.23, 1.30]), emergency department presentation (adjusted IRR 1.17; 95% confidence interval [1.13, 1.20]) and ambulatory mental health treatment days (adjusted IRR 2.90; 95% confidence interval [2.82, 2.98]) than people without psychotic illnesses. The higher rate of hospitalisation among people with psychotic illnesses was driven by mental health admissions; while people with psychosis had over twice the rate of mental health admissions, people with other severe mental illnesses without psychosis (e.g. mood/affective, anxiety and personality disorders) had higher rates of physical health admissions, including for circulatory, musculoskeletal, genitourinary and respiratory disorders. Factors that predicted greater health service utilisation included psychosis, intellectual disability, greater medical comorbidity and previous hospitalisation. Conclusion: Findings from this study support the need for (a) the development of processes to support the physical health of people with severe mental illness, including those without psychosis; (b) a focus in mental health policy and service provision on people with complex support needs, and (c) improved implementation and testing of integrated models of care to improve health outcomes for all people experiencing severe mental illness.

scholarly journals Implementation of the Enhanced Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST+) Model Within a National Youth E-Mental Health Service (eheadspace): Protocol for a Single Group Pilot Study for Help-Seeking Young People

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Rice ◽  
John Gleeson ◽  
Steven Leicester ◽  
Sarah Bendall ◽  
Simon D'Alfonso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Single Group ◽  
Social Therapy

scholarly journals Transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S347-S348
Author(s):  
Tania Saour
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Team Meetings ◽  
Significant Barrier ◽  
Transition Plan

BackgroundThe prevalence and recognition of mental health conditions in young people is growing. Around 50% of lifetime mental illness (except dementia) begins by the age of 14. Around 75% of adults requiring secondary mental health services developed problems prior to 18.The TRACK study of young people's transitions from CAMHS to AMHS has found that up to a third of teenagers are lost from care during transition and a further third experience an interruption in their care.A CQUIN for Transition has concluded that young children should have a transition plan 6 months before they turn 18.MethodAll young people aged 17 and a half years old were included in the data collection for this audit. Clinical information was reviewed using the West London RIO computer system. While reviewing the clinical documentation I was recording whether:Transitional plans had been discussed with the young person.If yes, what were they?Had a referral been made to the appropriate service?ResultThere were 180 open cases to the Hounslow Adolescent Team. 35 cases were over 18:At least 16 of these cases needed to be closed as no intervention was being provided.14 cases had an unclear plan.Of the 25 cases aged between 17.5 and 18 years of age transitional plans were:Transition was discussed in 11 cases (44%). This meant that transitional plans were not discussed in 56% of young people.Of these 11 cases 7 referrals were completed. (28%)ConclusionThe lack of consistent protocols for transition remains a significant barrier to health care provided to young people.Transitional planning needs to take place in an effective and timely manner to ensure continued patient centred care.Transitional discussions to be made a regular agenda item at team meetings.Care co-ordinator to be informed and reminded that transitional plans need to be explored with young people.Following a re-audit of this data 6 months on 100% of cases over the age of 18 were closed and transition was discussed in the remaining 56%.

scholarly journals MAINTAINING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH IN THE RISKS OF THE 21st CENTURY

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-86
Author(s):  
Sergii Boltivets
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social World ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Living Things ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mental Abilities

Among the threats and dangers of the future, our duty to the younger and future generations is to develop the instincts, feelings and self-preservation of children and young people, who by their very birth suffer from inventions, conflicts and crises inherited by all previous older generations. The dominants of future self-preservation are in the mental development of children and youth, the main of which we consider mental abilities, development of feelings and especially - a sense of empathy for all living things, as well as - the imagination of every child and young person. her own life and the lives of others. Our common methodology should be to understand that the social world is not simplified, but complicated, and we have a duty to prepare our children and young people to solve these complications.

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