4 Adolescents Identifying their Barriers to Access Mental Health and Addiction Services in a Small Rural Canadian Town

Abstract

Abstract Background Mental health illnesses or disorders and addictions are common in the Canadian population. Despite the huge burden associated with child and adolescent mental health disorders around the world, in Canada and in our local communities there are gaps in the provision of care for this population. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to the inadequate provision of care, as services have been traditionally conceptualized to serve the needs of children and adults. The gap between need and access to mental health and addiction services has been identified by: parents, teachers, and health care providers, albeit mostly studied in large urban populations. Objectives The purpose of the study was to identify the adolescent-perceived barriers to accessing mental health services in the community. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in a small rural town through online questionnaires, asking local high school students to report their perceived personal and community level barriers to accessing services. The sample included 244 high school students answering the questionnaire, which included sections on perception of individual level barriers and perception of community level barriers. We also captured respondent characteristics, including demographics, attempts to access mental health services in the past, and awareness of resources. Results Respondents’ top perceived barriers were the lack of awareness regarding available resources, lack of proper education regarding mental health issues, and uncertainty of what the treatment would entail. Students who had previously accessed services identified the lack of qualified mental health professionals, frequent change of mental health professionals, and lack of collaboration and communication among service providers as their top barriers, whereas students who had not accessed services reported the uncertainty of the treatment, fear of social stigma, and exclusion as primary barriers. Conclusion The study findings strongly support the need for promoting better mental health literacy in the school and in the community as well as improving the services available. A critical look at the mental health curriculum components across the grades is urgently needed. Planning mental health services addressing these perceived barriers might improve teenagers’ access to services, allowing those in need to seek help and receive effective treatment before they are in crisis. Potential competing interests Received funding from MicroResearch and Saint Martha's Foundation