Bridging the gap between service need and service utilization: a school-based mental health program

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Urban Health Services

Background:

• Significant disparities exist in accessing mental health services for children.
• Urban children, particularly those from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds, face barriers to care.
• University-affiliated clinics aim to improve service accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an urban school-based mental health program.
• To assess the characteristics of children utilizing school-based services compared to a central clinic.
• To determine the potential of school-based services in bridging the need-utilization gap.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a mental health service program within inner-city schools.
• Comparison of socio-demographic and psychiatric impairment data between school-based and central clinic populations.
• Analysis of service utilization patterns.

Main Results:

• The school-based sample (N=44) was socioeconomically disadvantaged and represented minority populations.
• Children in the school-based program exhibited psychiatric impairment levels comparable to the central clinic population (N=304).
• School-based services successfully reached a population with significant need.

Conclusions:

• School-based mental health services are a viable strategy for reaching disadvantaged children.
• These programs can effectively bridge the gap between identified mental health needs and service utilization.
• Implementing services in schools enhances access for underserved urban youth.