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“Where am I meant to go from here?”: Young people’s experiences of navigating referral processes, waiting lists and access pathways in mental health services

Author

Listed:
  • Lynch, Louise
  • Moorhead, Anne
  • Long, Maggie
  • Steele, Isobel Hawthorne

Abstract

Early intervention for mental health problems during youth can contribute to increased quality of life and the reduction in the rates of youth death by suicide. Young people often wait until their distress becomes severe before seeking help and service factors have been identified as impactful in how they access helping interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lynch, Louise & Moorhead, Anne & Long, Maggie & Steele, Isobel Hawthorne, 2025. "“Where am I meant to go from here?”: Young people’s experiences of navigating referral processes, waiting lists and access pathways in mental health services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:172:y:2025:i:c:s0190740925001318
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108248
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Katrin Häggström Westberg & Maria Nyholm & Jens M. Nygren & Petra Svedberg, 2022. "Mental Health Problems among Young People—A Scoping Review of Help-Seeking," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Anderson, Joanna K. & Howarth, Emma & Vainre, Maris & Jones, Peter B. & Humphrey, Ayla, 2017. "A scoping literature review of service-level barriers for access and engagement with mental health services for children and young people," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 164-176.
    3. Pádraig Collins & Chris Barker, 2009. "Psychological Help-Seeking in Homeless Adolescents," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(4), pages 372-384, July.
    4. repec:plo:pone00:0155065 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Crosby, Shantel D. & Hsu, Hsun-Ta & Jones, Kristian & Rice, Eric, 2018. "Factors that contribute to help-seeking among homeless, trauma-exposed youth: A social-ecological perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 126-134.
    6. Damian, April Joy & Gallo, Joseph J. & Mendelson, Tamar, 2018. "Barriers and facilitators for access to mental health services by traumatized youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 273-278.
    7. Siobhan Jones & Alex Hassett & Irene Sclare, 2017. "Experiences of Engaging With Mental Health Services in 16- to 18-Year-Olds: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(3), pages 21582440177, July.
    8. Narendorf, Sarah Carter, 2017. "Intersection of homelessness and mental health: A mixed methods study of young adults who accessed psychiatric emergency services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 54-62.
    9. Bramesfeld, Anke & Platt, Lisa & Schwartz, Friedrich Wilhelm, 2006. "Possibilities for intervention in adolescents' and young adults' depression from a public health perspective," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(2-3), pages 121-131, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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