Many children and adolescents with impairing mental health disorders are not in contact with specialized mental health services. In order to close the service gap, it is important to increase the knowledge of barriers to access. In a cross-sectional observational study 244 parents of children and adolescents were interviewed regarding barriers to accessing and the research group found these results: The most commonly reported barriers were lack of information about were to seek help (60.3%), the perception that professionals did not listen (59.8%) and professionals refusing to initiate interventions or provide referral to services (53.7%). Lack of knowledge, stigmatization and unavailability of services were common themes across barriers to help-seeking. Important knowledge in order to improve future practice.

Link:

https://vbn.aau.dk/da/projects/bedre-b%C3%B8rne-ungdomspsykiatri-systematisk-unders%C3%B8gelse-for-psykiat

More information:

Marlene Briciet Lauritsen, Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, The Faculty of Medicine, AAU, m_lauritsen@dcm.aau.dk, https://vbn.aau.dk/da/persons/128090