Facilitating Access to Mental Health Services: A Stakeholder-Driven Improvement of the Children and Young People (CYP) as One Referral Platform

Kristof Santa (), Chloe Dixon, Rafaela Neiva Ganga, Gemma Trainor, Grahame Smith, Victoria Furfie and Holly Brown
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Kristof Santa: School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK
Chloe Dixon: School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK
Rafaela Neiva Ganga: Liverpool Business School, Faculty of Business and Law, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L1 2TZ, UK
Gemma Trainor: School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK
Grahame Smith: School of Nursing and Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK
Victoria Furfie: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool L14 5AB, UK
Holly Brown: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool L14 5AB, UK

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: (1) Background: Pre-pandemic, child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) referrals were paper based in Liverpool and Sefton (England, United Kingdom), causing delays in waiting times. The “CYP as One” online mental health referral platform was co-created to overcome these challenges. (2) Methods: This study aims to improve “CYP as One” accessibility and usability and, subsequently, support CAMHS to improve waiting times. The current study utilised the Living Lab approach. We conducted content analysis on completed online referrals extracted from the “CYP as One” platform. These findings were supplemented by seven online focus groups, with 16–19-year-old young people, parents of children under 16, and health service providers. Thematic analysis was conducted on all data. (3) Results: The thematic analysis returned seven themes, namely (i) ”CYP as One” vs. Traditional Referrals, (ii) Gender and Language Dynamics, (iii) Digital Empathy in Action, (iv) the Influence of the Provider Perspective, (v) Age and Social Sensitivity, (vi) Enhancing Access to Information, and (vii) Boosting Admin and Clinical Efficiency. (4) Conclusions: Digital content that seeks to replace in-person referrals can provide adequate support to children and young people who have faced difficulties accessing mental health services.

Keywords: co-customisation; participatory design; PPI; digital platform; mental health referral; children; young people (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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