Health Care : Current Reviews

Towards early intervention for youth mental health in primary care: A mixed methods investigation

Euro Health Care and Fitness Summit

September 01-03, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Dorothy Leahy

University of Limerick, Ireland

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Health Care: Current Reviews

Abstract:

Introduction: The youth suicide rate in Ireland is now the second highest in the European Union, for 0-19 year olds. Early intervention in youth mental health is increasingly viewed as being more effective than traditional approaches to care. General Practitioners (GPs), as the healthcare professional most often consulted by young people, have a central role in early detection of youth mental health problems. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the experiences and attitudes of young people and health care workers towards screening and treatment for such issues. Aims: This study aimed to examine the role of primary care in providing early intervention and treatment for youth mental health problems. Methods: It was a mixed method study that involved qualitative interviews with health care workers (n=37) and young people (n=20) from primary care, secondary care and community agencies in two of Ireland�??s most socio-economically disadvantaged areas, Limerick City and Dublin South Inner City and a national cross-sectional survey of GPs (n=175). Results: While addressing youth mental health problems was a priority, a number of barriers to the identification and management of such issues were identified: Access to services, flaws in traditional mental health services for young people under eighteen years, fragmentation between services and limited resources. Conclusion: The research outlined potential implications for clinical practice, research and education such as promoting awareness of mental health and the role of the GP in helping these issues, education of practitioners and improving access to psychological treatments for young people.

Biography :

Email: Dorothy.Leahy@ul.ie