Types Of Mental Health Services Research Articles

Exploring Mental Health Services for Youth Experiencing Homelessness in East Asian Pacific Regions: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) in East Asian Pacific (EAP) regions represent one of the most at-risk populations due to cultural and geographical factors. Effective mental health interventions, primarily researched in Western contexts, may not fully apply to YEH in EAP. Their lack of stable shelter, disrupted social networks, and limited access to mental health services elevate their susceptibility to adverse mental health, making urgent interventions essential to address their needs. The objective of this study is to explore and systematically search the types of mental health services and interventions available for YEH in EAP and their impact on overall quality of life and wellbeing. Electronic databases (e.g., Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus) were systematically searched (publication dates between 1 January 1990 and 13 May 2023), as well as additional online resources specific to homelessness. Articles were screened, and a critical appraisal assessed the quality of the included studies. Eight studies with different interventions were identified in Indonesia (n = 2), Malaysia (n = 1), South Korea (n = 3), and the Philippines (n = 1). These were thematically clustered into six categories: art, cognitive behavioural therapy, life skills education, resilience enhancement, family strengthening, and government interventions/services. This review highlights effective mental health interventions' positive impact on YEH mental health outcomes and quality of life in EAP, stressing the urgent need to implement socio-culturally sensitive services. Future research should address knowledge gaps through comprehensive studies covering diverse EAP regions and populations, prioritising socio-culturally specific psychological measures.

Measuring Mental Health Service Accessibility for Indigenous Populations: a Systematic Review.

Indigenous populations have experienced inequality of accessing mental health services compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts, although the way of measuring mental health service accessibility for Indigenous populations is unclear. This systematic review examines measures of mental health service accessibility for Indigenous people, including the diversity of mental health services that are available to them and the barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Using a systematic search procedure, we identified 27 studies that explored Indigenous populations' mental health service access. Our review shows that 18 studies used interview-based methods to explore how Indigenous people use mental health services, and only nine studies used quantitative methods to measure the uptake of mental health services. While advanced methods for quantifying geographical access to healthcare services are widely available, these methods have not been applied in the current literature to explore the potential access to mental health services by Indigenous populations. This is partially due to limited understanding of how Indigenous populations seek mental healthcare, barriers that prevent Indigenous people from accessing diverse types of mental health services, and scarcity of data that are available to researchers. Future research could focus on developing methods to support spatially explicit measuring of accessibility to mental health services for Indigenous populations.

A collaborative, school-based wraparound support intervention for fostering children and youth's mental health

Early mental health interventions are needed in response to a growing mental health crisis among children and youth. Schools are promising sites for early intervention because they have existing infrastructure for engaging with students. Specifically, collaborative initiatives involving community partnerships allow schools to leverage shared resources to deliver mental health support. However, more research is needed to guide the development of early interventions so that they effectively address students' mental health needs. The present study explored the role of collaborative, school mental health services in fostering children and youth's mental health, through All in for Youth, a wraparound model of support in Edmonton, Canada. Three research questions were addressed: What mental health concerns do children and youth experience? What are the factors that impact the use of collaborative school mental health services? Do collaborative school mental health services lead to perceived mental health impacts among children and youth? A multiple methods secondary analysis was conducted on school cohort data across seven elementary and junior high schools (n = 2,073 students), and interview and focus group data (n = 51 students, grades 2–9; n = 18 parents/caregivers). The quantitative findings indicated that 42.7% of students accessed any type of mental health service across the schools, with close to equivalent service use by gender (50.2% male, 49.5% female, 0.3% genderqueer) and grade (kindergarten-grade 9; M = 10%, SD = 1.9%, range = 6.3%−13%). Participants accessed mental health services in primarily individual or combined individual and group settings (72.9%) and as an informal client (75.1%). The interview and focus group findings revealed high mental health needs among students, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to these needs, a supportive school culture, adequate school communication, and a stable and well-resourced mental health workforce promoted access to collaborative school mental health services. Finally, mental health services supported children and youth through the experience of having a supportive relationship with a safe and caring adult, an improved capacity to cope with school and life, and improved family functioning. The findings underscore the importance of developing school mental health services that take an ecological, wraparound approach to addressing students' multi-faceted mental health needs.

MH spending for children, adolescents increases since COVID

Although the use of mental health telehealth services for children and adolescents has stabilized since the beginning of the pandemic, spending on those types of mental health services for youth rose by more than one‐quarter since the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Peer support for consumers with borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT Objective Peer support may be a valuable way to support recovery in borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study investigates the role of peer workers in services supporting consumers with BPD. Method We studied peer work delivered in five different types of mental health services, including outpatient mental health and independent peer-run services. Surveys were conducted with peer workers (n = 5), consumers of the peer work (n = 14) and clinicians in the same service (n = 4). Qualitative responses were analysed using interpretative thematic analysis. Results Consumers with BPD receiving peer support benefitted by feeling understood, hopeful and less isolated. Peer workers were described as role modelling a meaningful life, understanding the unique experiences associated with BPD, and providing skills in the context of their own personal experiences. Peer workers providing peer support benefitted by being reminded to practise their own wellbeing skills, and experienced challenges when responding to consumer risk and trauma experiences. Clinicians increased their understanding of BPD through discussions with peer workers. Discussion Findings show evidence regarding the unique contributions of peer support for consumers with BPD. Challenges were experienced by peer workers, and they recommended peer supervision being more accessible and available. Future research is required to evaluate mechanisms in peer support that contribute to recovery in consumers with BPD.

Mental health services and psychotropic medications provided to children at risk for placement instability in foster care

Children at risk for placement instability are subpopulation in out-of-home care with a critical need for enhanced mental health services, but little is known about the types and adequacy of the mental services they receive. This descriptive study sought to identify the types of mental health services and psychotropic medications provided to children with a risk for moves, foster parents’ perceptions of their adequacy, consistency of therapy services with evidence-based models, and racial and gender differences in service provision. Foster parents completed telephone surveys for a randomly selected sample of 144 children aged 8–14 in specialized or traditional family foster care with a history of placement moves or hospitalizations in a large state in the US. Over two-thirds of children were reported to have mental health diagnoses, with ADHD most frequent (52%). Most children with a diagnosis received psychotherapy (75%) and psychotropic medications (90%). The majority did not receive additional services. A quarter received therapy supporting use of behavioral interventions in foster homes, with 40% of foster parents reporting this was inadequate. Additionally, half reported inadequate initial training. No racial differences in services were reported. However, girls were more likely to receive therapy described as trauma-focused than boys (30.9% and 5.6%, respectively); more boys received treatment for anger (17%) and psychotropic medication (60%). Findings indicate that children at risk for multiple moves receive a high level of services, but questions are raised about the content and adequacy of these services. Evidence-based psychosocial interventions are needed to support positive outcomes and potentially reduce psychotropic medication use.

Mental health care among marginalized populations in the United States

Mental health care among marginalized populations in the United States

Attitudinal and demographic factors associated with seeking help and receiving antidepressant medication for symptoms of common mental disorder

BackgroundDespite the increased attention given to improvement of mental health-related knowledge and attitudes, rates of help-seeking for mental illness remain low even in countries with well-developed mental health services. This study examines the relationships between attitudes to mental illness, symptoms of common mental disorder and seeking-help and receiving medication for a mental health problem.MethodsWe used data from the nationally representative Health Survey for England 2014 to design three logistic regression models to test for the effects of attitudes to mental illness (measured by a shortened version of the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill, CAMI scale) on: recent contact with a doctor for a mental health problem; use of any type of mental health service in the last 12 months; and having antidepressants currently prescribed, while controlling for symptoms of common mental disorder (measured by the General Health Questionnaire, GHQ). We also tested for an interaction between attitudes to mental illness and symptoms of common mental disorder on the outcomes.ResultsA significant but very small effect of CAMI score was found on ‘antidepressants currently prescribed’ model (OR = 1.01(1.00, 1.02) but not on the two indicators of help-seeking. We also found a significant but very small interaction between CAMI and GHQ scores on recent contact with a doctor (OR = 0.99, 95% CI (0.990, 0.998); adjusted Wald test P = 0.01)). Knowing someone with a mental illness had a significant positive effect on help-seeking indicated by: (a) recent contact with a doctor (2.65 (1.01, 6.98)) and (b) currently prescribed antidepressant (2.67 (1.9, 3.75)) after controlling for attitudes to mental illness.ConclusionsOur results suggest that knowing someone with a mental health problem seems to have a further positive effect on help-seeking, beyond improving attitudes to mental illness. Furthermore, multiple different types and aspects of stigma may contribute to help-seeking behaviours, consequently multi-faceted approaches are likely to be most efficient.

A Mobile Health Approach for Improving Outcomes in Suicide Prevention (SafePlan)

BackgroundSuicide is a prominent cause of death worldwide, particularly among young people. It was the second leading cause of death among those aged 15-29 years globally in 2016. Treatment for patients with suicidal thoughts or behaviors often includes face-to-face psychological therapy with a mental health professional. These forms of interventions may involve maintaining and updating paper-based reports or worksheets in between sessions. Mobile technology can offer a way to support the implementation of evidence-based psychological techniques and the acquisition of protective coping skills.ObjectiveThis study aims to develop a mobile app to facilitate service users’ access to mental health support and safety planning. This process involved eliciting expert input from clinicians who are actively engaged in the provision of mental health care.MethodsA survey was distributed to targeted health care professionals to determine what features should be prioritized in a new mobile app relating to suicide prevention. On the basis of the survey results, a clinical design group, comprising 6 members with experience in fields such as mobile health (mHealth), clinical psychology, and suicide prevention, was established. This group was supplemented with further input from additional clinicians who provided feedback over three focus group sessions. The sessions were centered on refining existing app components and evaluating new feature requests. This process was iterated through regular feedback until agreement was reached on the overall app design and functionality.ResultsA fully functional mobile app, known as the SafePlan app, was developed and tested with the input of clinicians through an iterative design process. The app’s core function is to provide an interactive safety plan to support users with suicidal thoughts or behaviors as an adjunct to face-to-face therapy. A diary component that facilitates the generalization of skills learned through dialectical behavior therapy was also implemented. Usability testing was carried out on the final prototype by students from a local secondary school, who are representative of the target user population in both age and technology experience. The students were asked to complete a system usability survey (SUS) at the end of this session. The mean overall SUS rating was 71.85 (SD 1.38).ConclusionsThe participatory process involving key stakeholders (clinicians, psychologists, and information technology specialists) has resulted in the creation of an mHealth intervention technology that has the potential to increase accessibility to this type of mental health service for the target population. The app has gone through the initial testing phase, and the relevant recommendations have been implemented, and it is now ready for trialing with both clinicians and their patients.

The use of mental health services by Australian adolescents with mental disorders and suicidality: Findings from a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

ObjectivesMental disorders and suicidality among adolescents have been identified as a major public health concern worldwide; however, they often do not get the necessary attention from parents, school and health professional, and therefore are left untreated. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the use of mental health services among Australian adolescents aged 13–17 with mental disorders and/or suicidality.MethodsAdolescents aged 13–17 (n = 2134) from Young Minds Matter (YMM): the Second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing were included in this study. The YMM is a cross-sectional nationwide survey, in which information was collected from both parents and adolescents (aged 13–17 years). Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the factors that have an impact on the use of mental health services (outcome variable) in two subsamples: (1) adolescents with mental disorder and (2) adolescents with suicidality.ResultsOverall, 740 (34.7%) and 168 (7.9%) adolescents reported a mental disorder and/or suicidality, respectively. The incidence of seeking any service was higher among adolescents with suicidality (approximately 50%) compared to those with a mental disorder (about 30%). Girls, older age-group (15–17), adolescents living with disadvantaged families (lower-income, less educated and unemployed parents), those who had multiple mental disorders and history of substance use were most likely to use mental health services regardless of mental disorder and suicidality. Health services and online services were the most popular type of mental health service among adolescents aged 13–17 across two subgroups, while, school and telephone services were less utilized.ConclusionsMany adolescents with mental disorders and/or suicidality do not use mental health services. The findings indicate differences in factors associated with the use of mental health services among adolescents with mental disorder and suicidality. Further research is needed to address the specific barriers that limit the use of the services.

China’s Mental Health Interventions during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Background. The COVID-19 outbreakhas threatened both the physical healthof individualswho contracted the virus, and the mental health of everyone directly or indirectly associated with or concerned about it. Objective. As telecommunication technologies and online mental health apps become more available and affordable, they allowbehavioral and mental health professionalsto provide quality care by handling problems arising from the COVID-19 outbreakvirtually. The aim of the current article is to summarizethe online psychological assistancesupported by the Chinese governmentduring the epidemic. Design. Several measures, policies, action plans, and programs that have been underway in China during the COVID-19 outbreak epidemicare listedto provide guidance formental health interventionpractices around the world. Results. A total of seven types of mental health services and supports developed in China were listed andintroduced: 1) online psychological assistance;2) online psychological self-assessment and self-help; 3) a “Peace ofMind” self-help counseling camp; 4) a “Peace ofMind” self-help training camp; 5) mental health training and lectures; 6) psychological assistance to Hubei; and 7) collaboration with social workersin“Thousands of Institutions Send Peace ofMind.”Moreover, several areas forthe organization and management of psychological intervention activities in the futurewere identified. Conclusion. Mental health interventions helped peoplecopewith their mental health concerns duringthe outbreak of COVID-19. They couldfacilitatethe development of Chinese public emergency interventions, and eventually improve the quality and effectiveness of emergency interventions in China.

The contribution of mental health services to a new strategic direction for sexual assault and abuse services

A new strategy for sexual assault and abuse services was published by NHS England earlier this year. It called for better coordination of services along the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) pathway following a sexual assault including mental health services for children, young people and adults. Previous research has highlighted the fact that up to two-thirds of those attending SARCs either have a history of mental health problems or are being currently treated for one. The NHS England commissioning guidance for SARCs calls for clear pathways between SARCs and different types of mental health services including: Community mental health teams (CMHTs); child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) or crisis teams (CTs). In this survey of Mental Health Trusts, using freedom of information requests (FOIs) we found that very few mental health services had formally negotiated pathways with SARCs however there were several examples of good practice which it is important to report. We conclude that there is an important role for CCG and NHS England commissioners and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in improving the relationships between SARCs and Mental Health Services.

Integration of mental health services into an innovative health care delivery model for children with chronic conditions

Coordinated Healthcare for Complex Kids (CHECK) is an innovative health care delivery demonstration project for children with chronic conditions and is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Care Innovation Award Round Two. CHECK integrated behavioral health care into the model of comprehensive healthcare delivery. CHECK has provided a total of 31,470 services to 5923 children and their families. CHECK has provided 12,243 mental health screenings, 18,411 preventive interventions, 7511 consultative services, 2443 direct interventions, and 3105 referral services. A significant relationship was found between type of mental health service and disease and age. Children received different types of mental health services based on their type of chronic medical condition and age. CHECK is a promising model that has the potential to inform the development of future integrated health and behavioral health care service delivery models for children and youth with chronic medical conditions.

Mental health service use in Australia: The role of family structure and socio-economic status

ObjectiveTo investigate the patterns and the determinants of mental health service use by children and adolescents in Australia. MethodData from Young Minds Matter (YMM): The Second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing is used in this study. YMM is a face-to-face household survey conducted in 2013–2014 that collected information from 6310 parents/carers of children aged 4–17 years (55% of eligible households). A self-reported survey of 2967 (89% of eligible youth) 11- to 17-year-olds from these households was also conducted. Bivariate analyses are used in this study to examine the variables and their distributions over the outcome variables. Binary logit models are used to investigate the determinants of mental health service use. ResultsParent reported data shows that among children aged 4–17 years, 12%, 1.2% and 0.6% utilised health services, school services and telephone services, respectively. Youth reported data reveals that approximately 7.2%, 2% and 4% and 23.5% of children aged 11–17 years used health services, school services, telephone services and online services, respectively. Youth reported data further shows that online services were the most popular type of mental health service among adolescents. Those with anxiety or ADHD constituted the highest proportion of children that used any type of mental health services. Logistic analysis of parent reported data shows that children from step, blended and sole-parent households compared to original parent households were more likely to use any type of mental health service, and the same trend was seen for children living in inner regional areas compared to those living in major cities. Children of parents with lower education or unemployed parents were also more likely to utilise health services. ConclusionFrom the findings, it is concluded that age-relevant mental health services should be improved and made available for children and adolescents. Secondly, school and health services should have a particular focus on complex disorders like ADHD, anxiety and conduct disorders, as these are the services most used by children who suffer from these conditions. Finally, areas of low socio-economic status should focus on improving their school and health services as these are the services used most by children from these backgrounds.

Partnering With Black Churches to Increase Access to Care.

Partnering With Black Churches to Increase Access to Care.

Utilization of Mental Health Services and Mental Health Status Among Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care: A Parallel Process Latent Growth Modeling Approach.

This longitudinal study examined the parallel trajectories of mental health service use and mental health status among children placed in Florida out-of-home care. The results of growth curve modeling suggested that children with greater mental health problems initially received more mental health services. Initial child mental health status, however, had no effect on subsequent service provision when all outpatient mental health services were included. When specific types of mental health services, such as basic outpatient, targeted case management, and intensive mental health services were examined, results suggested that children with compromised functioning during the baseline period received more intensive mental health services over time. However, this increased provision of intensive mental health services did not improve mental health status, rather it was significantly associated with progressively worse mental health functioning. These findings underscore the need for regular comprehensive mental health assessments focusing on specific needs of the child.

P.7.d.008 - Differences in utilization patterns among medications in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a 36-month naturalistic retrospective study using the Korean health insurance review and assessment claims database

To investigate the patterns and the determinants of mental health service use by children and adolescents in Australia.Data from Young Minds Matter (YMM): The Second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing is used in this study. YMM is a face-to-face household survey conducted in 2013–2014 that collected information from 6310 parents/carers of children aged 4–17 years (55% of eligible households). A self-reported survey of 2967 (89% of eligible youth) 11- to 17-year-olds from these households was also conducted. Bivariate analyses are used in this study to examine the variables and their distributions over the outcome variables. Binary logit models are used to investigate the determinants of mental health service use.Parent reported data shows that among children aged 4–17 years, 12%, 1.2% and 0.6% utilised health services, school services and telephone services, respectively. Youth reported data reveals that approximately 7.2%, 2% and 4% and 23.5% of children aged 11–17 years used health services, school services, telephone services and online services, respectively. Youth reported data further shows that online services were the most popular type of mental health service among adolescents. Those with anxiety or ADHD constituted the highest proportion of children that used any type of mental health services. Logistic analysis of parent reported data shows that children from step, blended and sole-parent households compared to original parent households were more likely to use any type of mental health service, and the same trend was seen for children living in inner regional areas compared to those living in major cities. Children of parents with lower education or unemployed parents were also more likely to utilise health services.From the findings, it is concluded that age-relevant mental health services should be improved and made available for children and adolescents. Secondly, school and health services should have a particular focus on complex disorders like ADHD, anxiety and conduct disorders, as these are the services most used by children who suffer from these conditions. Finally, areas of low socio-economic status should focus on improving their school and health services as these are the services used most by children from these backgrounds.

Correlates of Mental Health Service Use Among Young Adults With Mental Illness: Results From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

This study examined correlates of use of outpatient and inpatient mental health services and psychotropic medication in a large, nationally representative sample of young adults ages 18-26 with mental illness (N=22,600). Data were from the 2008-2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual nationally representative survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. Separate logistic regression models examined past-year use of three mental health service types (outpatient services, inpatient services, and psychotropic medication). Correlates included demographic characteristics, factors developmentally relevant to young adults, and general medical and mental health status. Within this sample of young adults with mental illness, 20.4% used outpatient services, 3.6% used inpatient services, and 25.4% used psychotropic medication. Variables associated with use of one or more types of mental health services included being female (outpatient and medication), one to two moves in the past year (medication), having health insurance (all types), past-year criminal justice involvement (all types), poor health (inpatient and medication), substance use disorders (inpatient and medication), and mental illness with severe impairment (all types). Non-Hispanic blacks, Asians, and Hispanics were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to receive outpatient mental health services or psychotropic medications. Surprisingly, young adults employed full-time were less likely than those who were unemployed to receive services, and living with a partner (versus living alone) was not associated with a likelihood of using outpatient services. Results support the unique nature of young adulthood and the need to tailor mental health services to close gaps in service use during this developmental period.

Seeking mental health information and support online: experiences and perspectives of young people receiving treatment for first-episode psychosis.

Limited knowledge exists on youth mental health service users' experiences and perspectives of seeking mental health information, services and support online. Such information is important for developing online resources that are tailored to the needs of youth with different types of mental health concerns. The purpose of this study was to better understand the experiences and perspectives of young people receiving treatment for first-episode psychosis (FEP) on using web-based and mobile technologies for accessing mental health information, services and support. A qualitative approach using focus group methods was used. Seventeen participants between the ages of 21 and 35 were recruited from a specialized early intervention program for psychosis. A thematic analysis was conducted. The results are organized under three related themes: striving towards a better understanding of the illness and treatment; encountering multiple issues with accessing information online; and valuing online mental health information and support. The majority of participants described online activities related to information and support, rather than specific types of mental health services or interventions. Youth receiving treatment for FEP value accessing mental health information and support online; however, they encounter several challenges in this regard. The findings can inform the development of online resources and strategies that meet the needs of service users. This study also highlights the importance for mental healthcare professionals to address the topic of online mental health information and support seeking within the context of providing services to young people.

Mental health service and provider preference among American Indians with type 2 diabetes.

In this study, we investigated mental health service and provider preferences of American Indian adults with type 2 diabetes from two tribes in the northern Midwest. Preferences were determined and compared by participant characteristics. After controlling for other factors, living on reservation lands was associated with increased odds of Native provider preference, and decreased odds of biomedical service preference. Anxiety also was associated with decreased odds of biomedical service preference. Spiritual activity engagement and past health care discrimination were associated with increased odds of traditional service preference. We discuss implications for the types of mental health services offered and characteristics of providers who are recruited for tribal communities.