Accessing and re-accessing mental health walk-in clinics for children and families

Catalina Sarmiento; Graham J Reid

doi:10.1177/27550834231200617

Accessing and re-accessing mental health walk-in clinics for children and families

J Med Access. 2023 Sep 29:7:27550834231200617. doi: 10.1177/27550834231200617. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Catalina Sarmiento¹, Graham J Reid^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
² Departments of Psychology, Family Medicine, and Paediatrics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
³ Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Many child and youth mental health (CYMH) agencies across Canada and in Ontario are using mental health walk-in clinics (MHWCs).

Objectives: (1) Explore how MHWCs are used by families (e.g. mean, mode, and median number of visits), and (2) document how often and how soon families returned for a second MHWC visit and identify correlates of time to a second MHWC visit.

Design: Administrative data from two CYMH agencies in Ontario were extracted, including demographics, visit data, and presenting concerns.

Methods: In this exploratory, descriptive study, analyses of administrative data were conducted to identify patterns and correlates of MHWC use before other agency services, compared to MHWC use exclusively.

Results: About a third of children and families using MHWCs had two or more visits. Child age, guardianship, and disposition at discharge emerged as correlates of time to a second MHWC visit.

Conclusion: MHWCs can save families' time, and both agencies' time and money by eliminating the need to complete a detailed assessment prior to treatment for cases that would go on to have a single visit within this service.

Keywords: Canada; Mental health walk-in clinics; Ontario; children; youth.