NCJ Number
191526
Journal
Mental Health Services Research Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2000 Pages: 141-154
Date Published
2000
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper clarifies the relationship between need and mental health service use by examining the role of the providers in moderating the gap between youths need for services and their receipt of services.
Abstract
This paper posits that providers with training in and knowledge of mental health resources are more likely to recognize youths’ mental health problems, and provide youths with services. In 1994 and 1996, 792 adolescents who were involved with St. Louis public health, juvenile justice, child welfare, or education service sector were interviewed. Two hundred eighty-two youths had received some services, listing 533 providers. Three hundred and sixty-four providers were identified, and 61 percent (222) responded concerning service need, service use, and provider knowledge and behavior. Structural equation models demonstrated that provider assessment of youths’ mental health problems was the largest and provider knowledge of service resources the second largest determinant of service provision. Youths’ self-reported mental health is not positively associated with increased services and is only minimally associated with provider assessment problems. Training (both professional and inservice) contributed to higher assessments of youths’ problems and greater resource knowledge, which was associated with increased service provision. Providers from the mental health and child welfare sectors had more professional training in mental health and were more likely to receive inservice training. Inservice training should be offered to all who work with youths. References