A Critical Investigation of the Delivery System of Mental Health Service of Adolescents Victimized from Family Violence

Abstract

This study aimed to review the current mental health service delivery system for adolescent victims of family violence. Relevant references were examined and current mental health services were investigated. The major findings are as follows. First, mental health service delivery systems for adolescent victims of family violence are dualized into the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Second, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, taking Youth Counseling & Welfare Center as a main delivery system, develops the CYS-Net(Community Youth Safety-Net) in order to provide social services including counselling and emotional support, social protection support, education programs, as well as medical and health support. Third, the Ministry of Health and Welfare provides adolescent victims of family violence with mental health promotion services through Specialized Child Protection Agencies. Lastly, the Youth Counseling & Welfare Center and Specialized Child Protection Agencies have developed community network systems in order to offer crisis interventions to adolescent victims of family violence. Problems in the current mental health systems for adolescent victims of family violence are discussed, suggesting alternative mental health delivery systems.