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Use of Mental Health Services by Youths in Public Sectors of Care

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Mental Health Services Research

Abstract

The present paper examined the lifetime rates of mental health service use in a representative sample of youths identified as receiving services in at least one sector of care in a publicly funded service system of a large, metropolitan area. Service use was examined in relation to age, gender, mental health diagnostic status, and service sector involvement. Participants were 1,706 youths ages 6–17 years who were active in at least one of the following service sectors: alcohol and drug services, child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, and special education services for serious emotional disturbance. Structured service use and diagnostic interviews were administered to youths and their caregivers. High lifetime rates of mental health service use were found. Eighty-seven percent of the sample used at least one outpatient service, 45% used at least one inpatient service, and 71% reported use of a school-based service. Youths involved with the mental health and special education sectors had the highest rates of service use. In contrast, youths enumerated from the juvenile justice system tended to have the lowest rates of use. Additional research is needed to refine our understanding of the factors associated with the observed patterns of service use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Children's Hospital, San Diego, California

    Andrea L. Hazen, Richard L. Hough, John A. Landsverk & Patricia A. Wood

  2. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California

    Andrea L. Hazen

  3. Department of Sociology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California

    Richard L. Hough

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California

    Richard L. Hough

  5. Departments of Psychiatry and Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Richard L. Hough

  6. School of Social Work, San Diego State University, San Diego, California

    John A. Landsverk

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  1. Andrea L. Hazen
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  3. John A. Landsverk
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  4. Patricia A. Wood
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Hazen, A.L., Hough, R.L., Landsverk, J.A. et al. Use of Mental Health Services by Youths in Public Sectors of Care. Ment Health Serv Res 6, 213–226 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:MHSR.0000044747.54525.36

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