Help-seeking for children with mental health problems: parents' efforts and experiences.
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.
Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, Westminster Hall, Room 319E, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada. greid@uwo.ca
Graham J
GJ
Reid
Charles E
CE
Cunningham
Juliana I
JI
Tobon
Barrie
B
Evans
Moira
M
Stewart
Judith B
JB
Brown
Barbara
B
Lent
Richard W J
RW
Neufeld
Evelyn R
ER
Vingilis
Gregory S
GS
Zaric
Dianne C
DC
Shanley
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D010290:Parents