Mental health referral: a weak link in comprehensive care of children with chronic physical illness.
Although children with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for mental health problems, they and their families receive few mental health services. For a number of reasons, it is unusually difficult to refer these youngsters to traditional mental health resources and this may contribute to the paucity of services that they receive. Significant barriers to referral are contributed by each participant in the process: families, medical staff, and mental health providers. Alternative approaches to the delivery of services to this high-risk population are suggested.
Sabbeth
B
B
Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, New York.
Stein
R E
RE
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation