Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the uptake of an Australian primary mental health care program (Access to Allied Psychological Services) by young people aged 12 to 25 years and the characteristics of consumers and the treatments received. Data were sourced from a national web-based minimum dataset.ResultsBetween 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2012, 51 716 young consumers received 245 704 sessions via the primary mental health program. Around two thirds were female and the average age was 19 years. The majority had depressive and/or anxiety disorders.Most services were delivered to individuals (including just the young person and/or the young person with one or both parents), in a face-to-face context and free of charge. Cognitive and behavioral strategies were the most common interventions delivered.ConclusionsThe primary mental health care program has been well utilized by people aged 12 to 25 years. Similar programs in other developed countries may improve access to primary mental health care for young people.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to examine the uptake of an Australian primary mental health care program (Access to Allied Psychological Services) by young people aged 12 to 25 years and the characteristics of consumers and the treatments received
The Australian Government-funded Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program is an example of a primary mental health care program that may improve access to mental health services for young people
Data source Minimum dataset As per contractual requirements with the Australian Department of Health, data were collected by ATAPS service providers and entered by project officers into a web-based purpose-designed national minimum dataset
Summary
The purpose of this study was to examine the uptake of an Australian primary mental health care program (Access to Allied Psychological Services) by young people aged 12 to 25 years and the characteristics of consumers and the treatments received. Operating since 2001, ATAPS enables predominantly general practitioners (GPs; the Australian term for family physicians) to refer patients with high prevalence disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety) to mental health professionals (predominantly psychologists) for free or low-cost, evidence-based mental health care (most commonly cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT). This care is delivered in up to 12 (or 18 in exceptional circumstances) individual and/or up to 12 group sessions.
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