Help-seeking for Children with Mental Health Problems: Parents' Efforts and Experiences

Overview

Journal Adm Policy Ment Health

Publisher Springer

Specialty Public Health

Date 2010 Nov 9

PMID 21057868

Citations 16

Authors

Graham J Reid

Charles E Cunningham

Juliana I Tobon

Barrie Evans

Moira Stewart

Judith B Brown

Barbara Lent

Richard W J Neufeld

Evelyn R Vingilis

Gregory S Zaric

Dianne C Shanley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Parents who contacted 1 of 15 children's mental health agencies in Ontario, Canada reported on where and why they were seeking mental health services for their 4- to 17-year-old children. Parents contacted an average of four agencies (± 1.7; range = 1-14) in the previous year. Approximately one-half of parents were looking for either multiple types of treatment, or help for different problems, across agencies. The complex pattern of help-seeking evidenced in our study likely increases the burden on the mental health care system and on families, and may reduce the likelihood that families will connect with the most appropriate treatment.

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