Mental health difficulties across childhood and mental health service use: findings from a longitudinal population-based study

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dc.contributor.authorMulraney, M.
dc.contributor.authorHiscock, H.
dc.contributor.authorSciberras, E.
dc.contributor.authorCoghill, D.
dc.contributor.authorSawyer, M.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND:Over the past 20 years the prevalence of child and adolescent mental disorders in high-income countries has not changed despite increased investment in mental health services. Insufficient contact with mental health services may be a contributing factor; however, it is not known what proportion of children have sufficient contact with health professionals to allow delivery of treatment meeting minimal clinical practice guidelines, or how long children experience symptoms prior to receiving treatment.AimsTo investigate the level of mental healthcare received by Australian children from age 4 years to 14 years. METHOD:Trajectories of mental health symptoms were mapped using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Health professional attendances and psychotropic medications dispensed were identified from linked national Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme records. RESULTS:Four trajectories of mental health symptoms were identified (low, high-decreasing, moderate-increasing and high-increasing). Most children with mental health symptoms had few MBS mental health attendances, and only a minority received care meeting study criteria for minimally adequate treatment. Children in the high-increasing and moderate-increasing trajectories were more likely to access care, yet there was no evidence of improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS:It is important that children and adolescents with mental health problems receive treatment that meets minimal practice guidelines. Further research is needed to identify the quality of care currently provided to children with mental health difficulties and how clinicians can be best funded and supported to provide care meeting minimal practice guidelines.Declaration of interestsNone.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMelissa Mulraney, Harriet Hiscock, Emma Sciberras, David Coghill and Michael Sawyer
dc.identifier.citationThe British journal of psychiatry. Supplement, 2020; 217(1):364-369
dc.identifier.doi10.1192/bjp.2019.32
dc.identifier.issn0007-1250
dc.identifier.issn1472-1465
dc.identifier.orcidSawyer, M. [0000-0002-7834-0561]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/126653
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherCambridge University Press
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1129957
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1136222
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1110688
dc.rights© The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2019
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.32
dc.subjectHealth service use
dc.subjectadolescents
dc.subjectchildren
dc.subjectmental health
dc.titleMental health difficulties across childhood and mental health service use: findings from a longitudinal population-based study
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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