Abstract
BackgroundThere is an increasing demand for mental health support in primary care, especially for young people. To improve mental health support for young people in general practice, the needs of young people must be considered.AimTo explore the experiences of young people (aged 12–25 years) on receiving mental health care in primary care and identify the needs of young people who present with mental health concerns.Design and settingA systematic review and narrative synthesis.MethodThis was a systematic review and narrative synthesis. Six databases were searched for literature relating to young people’s experiences of receiving mental health care in primary care. Additional handsearching and manual internet searching were conducted. Narrative synthesis was employed.ResultsFive papers and a further two reports from manual internet searching were found, resulting in the inclusion of 1823 young people from four different countries (UK, US, Ireland, and Canada) for synthesis. The synthesis generated four themes: the centrality of a trusting relationship; showing empathy and taking concerns seriously; being given time to talk; and barriers to accessing mental health support in primary care.ConclusionYoung people need a trusting relationship to discuss sensitive issues. To enable high-quality and effective mental health consultations with young people and the development of trust, GPs require unhurried consultations and the ability to maintain continuity of care.
Highlights
The King’s Fund, a leading independent think tank focusing on health and care services and patient experience in England, has identified children and young people as one of the groups whose mental health needs are not currently being adequately met in primary care.[1]
Studies containing primary qualitative or quantitative data regarding the experiences of young people accessing support for their mental health from general practice
Records identified through database searching (n = 5757)
Summary
The King’s Fund, a leading independent think tank focusing on health and care services and patient experience in England, has identified children and young people as one of the groups whose mental health needs are not currently being adequately met in primary care.[1]. GPs across the UK have experienced an increase in the number of young people seeking support for their mental health.[3] Late adolescence is the time when most severe mental illnesses emerge, for example, psychotic disorders.[4] Diagnosis and the management of mental illness in young people can be challenging for GPs, more so without the involvement of mental health specialists.[5]. There is an increasing demand for mental health support in primary care, especially for young people. To improve mental health support for young people in general practice, the needs of young people must be considered
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
