title: Delivering youth-specific mental health services: the advantages of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence suggests that quality mental health care is based on well-integrated multi-disciplinary care provided by a range of mental health, substance use, and general healthcare clinicians. There is a growing focus in Australia on providing this type of mental health care to young people, particularly those in the early stages of a major disorder. The development of such services has proceeded on the basis of limited service-based data and has also been impeded by current healthcare funding structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report outlines the service characteristics of three models: a traditional 'fee for service' model, a specialized youth mental health clinic, and a new headspace multi-disciplinary site in South Western Sydney.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Naturalistic data from these three services collected during their developmental phase indicate that each model is associated with differential demographic, illness and service organization characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with 'fee-for-service' type care, specialized youth models provide greater access to a broad range of multi-disciplinary clinicians.
authors.affiliation: The Clinical Centre, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naismith
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whitwell
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chudleigh
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hickie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009517:New South Wales; D010348:Patient Care Team; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult