Implementing and Delivering Youth Mental Health Services: Approaches Taken by the Australian Primary Health Network 'Lead Sites'

Sanne Oostermeijer; Michelle Williamson; Angela Nicholas; Anna Machlin; Bridget Bassilios

doi:10.3390/ijerph191710494

Implementing and Delivering Youth Mental Health Services: Approaches Taken by the Australian Primary Health Network 'Lead Sites'

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 23;19(17):10494. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191710494.

Authors

Sanne Oostermeijer¹, Michelle Williamson¹, Angela Nicholas¹, Anna Machlin¹, Bridget Bassilios¹

Affiliation

¹ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.

Abstract

Aim: This paper aims to report on effective approaches for, and early impacts of, implementing and delivering services for youth with, or at risk of, severe mental illness commissioned by 10 Primary Health Network (PHN) Lead Sites (reform leaders) in Australia.

Methods: The following qualitative data sources were analyzed using a thematic approach: focus group consultations with 68 Lead Site staff and 70 external stakeholders from Lead Site regions; and observational data from one Lead Site meeting with a focus on services for youth with, or at risk of, severe mental illness and one national symposium that was attended by Lead Site staff and service providers.

Results: The Lead Site staff described common effective strategies for implementing and delivering youth enhanced services as follows: building on existing youth services, establishing effective linkages with other local youth enhanced services, and providing complementary clinical and non-clinical services. Early impacts of youth enhanced services that were described by Lead Site staff and external stakeholders included: improved service quality and access, positive effects on consumers and/or carers (e.g., reduced symptomology), and sector-wide impacts such as improved service integration. Staff members from two Lead Sites also mentioned negative impacts (e.g., uncertainty of continued funding). Suggestions for future improvements by Lead Site staff and external stakeholders included: involving young people in service design and planning, improving service access, addressing clinical workforce shortages, improving data collection and usage, and establishing greater service integration.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the necessity for collaborative and localized responses as well as service models that combine clinical and non-clinical care to address the needs of young people with, or at risk of, severe mental illness. Early impacts that were reported by stakeholders indicated that PHN-commissioned youth-enhanced services had positive impacts for consumers, carers, and the wider service sector.

Keywords: adolescent; health care reform; mental disorders; mental health services; service implementation; service uptake; youth mental health.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Australia
Caregivers
Humans
Lead
Mental Disorders* / therapy
Mental Health Services*

Substances

Lead

Grants and funding

This project was funded by the Australian Government, Department of Health. The Authors would like to thank the Department of Health, Primary Health Network (PHN) Lead Sites, and external stakeholders for their valuable contributions to this project.