TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Help-seeking pathways prior to referral to outpatient child and adolescent mental health services
JO  - Clinical child psychology and psychiatry
A1  - Hansen, Anna Sofie
A1  - Kjaersdam Telléus, Gry
A1  - Færk, Emil
A1  - Mohr-Jensen, Christina
A1  - Lauritsen, Marlene Briciet
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - AIM: To investigate parental help-seeking patterns prior to referral to outpatient child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and whether type of symptoms or duration of mental health problems prior to referral influence help-seeking. SETTING: Child mental health services in Denmark involve several sectors collaborating based on stepped-care principles. Access to CAMHS is free of charge but requires a formal referral. <br><br>METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, parents of 250 children were interviewed about pathways to outpatient CAMHS using the Children's Services Interview. <br><br>RESULTS: The median parent-reported duration of mental health problems prior to referral to CAMHS was 6.0 (IQR 3.4-8.5) years for children referred for neurodevelopmental disorders compared to 2.8 (IQR 1.0-6.5) years for children referred for emotional disorders. Educational services were the first help-seeking contact for the majority (57.5%) but referrals to CAMHS were most frequently from healthcare services (56.4%), predominantly general practitioners. Educational services played a greater part in help-seeking pathways for children referred for neurodevelopmental disorders. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The majority of children referred to CAMHS have mental health problems for years before referral. The delay in time-to-referral was most pronounced for children referred for neurodevelopmental disorders. Help-seeking pathways differ by symptom duration and type of symptoms.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1359-1045
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1359104521994192
ID  - ref1
ER  -