title: Five-year review of adolescent mental health usage in Singapore.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To provide a review of adolescent mental health service utilisation in a child and adolescent mental health outpatient clinic in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from all new adolescent cases seen over a 5-year period in the Child Guidance Clinic were analysed. A review of services provided is also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescent mental health usage has been on an increase with a rise in the number of cases diagnosed with depression. There has also been an increase in the number of forensic cases seen in the department.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a growing demand for adolescent mental health services. As the demands and stresses on today's youth increase, there is likely to be a continued increase in the demand for such services. The challenge in the future is to provide adolescent mental health services in cost-effective packages that will meet the needs as well as stay financially viable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Guidance Clinic, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. nelson_lee@imh.com.sg
authors.forename: N B C
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D S S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002661:Child Guidance Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation