Young help-seeker profiles in Israel: The case of the first Israeli headspace centre

To describe clinical and demographic characteristics of youths who seek help at the first Headspace centre in Israel and their families.

A sample of 291 (65%) of the youths (12- to 25-year-olds) who applied to Headspace between March 2016 and June 2018 completed an assessment, including reasons for referral and clinical status; the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, evaluating psychological distress; and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, measuring emotional and behavioural difficulties. Their families reported burden of care via the Burden Assessment Scale.

Of the sample, 75% were between the ages of 12 and 17 years (equal gender distribution); for 45%, Headspace was their first encounter with mental health services. Participants' most-reported referral source was school counsellors (27%), and presenting concern (51%) was emotional problems, mainly depression (18%) and anxiety (16%). Female and older participants had more emotional difficulties than did males and younger participants, respectively. Overall, most help-seekers expressed high distress levels upon entry, and their family's burden was associated with those levels.

This first study of the first Headspace centre in Israel sheds light on and broadens knowledge about young help-seekers of Headspace outside of Australia. It emphasizes the trend across all ages of help-seeking youths with high psychological-distress levels and the role of family and school staff in the help-seeking process. Establishing youth services that improve access and deliver early intervention to a widely underserved population at times of high distress can be a global trajectory.