Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 2469 - Transition of youth from CAMHS to AMHS: Experiences of Dutch mental health care professionals |
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| Contribution code | PS03-80 (P) |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
OBJECTIVES: Young people (aged 12 to 25) have the highest incidence and prevalence of mental illness across lifespan, and mental disorders account for almost 50% of the total disease burden among young people. Mental disease does not only place a heavy burden on adolescents and their families, but also involve societal costs in terms of healthcare expenditures, impaired functioning, and reduced longevity. Despite all this, access of youth to mental health services is the poorest of all age groups. Transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS) is often a poorly planned and experienced process. The current service configuration, with a distinction between CAMHS and AMHS, impedes continuity of care. In the Netherlands, there is an increasing interest in improving transition of CAMHS to AMHS. We performed a survey among Dutch mental health care professionals aiming to map their experiences with and attitudes towards young people’s transition from CAMHS to AMHS and the problems they encounter. METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed among professionals providing mental health care to young people (15-25 years old) with psychiatric conditions. The survey was completed by 518 respondents. RESULTS: Of 518 respondents, 66% was female, 33% were employed in both CAMHS and AMHS, 25% in CAMHS only, 27% in AMHS only, and 15% worked with adolescent/young adult teams specifically. Transition generally took place at 18 years or older. Decision making regarding transition is generally based on the professional’s own deliberations. The preparation mainly consists of discussing potential upcoming changes with the adolescent and parents. Most transition-related problems are experienced in CAMHS. Lack of coordination and communication were the most experienced problems. Professionals recommended the following to improve transitional care: 1) flexibility of age of transition, with developmental age leading instead of biological age, 2) more specialist youth mental health services, and 3) less burden by financial and organizational boundaries. CONCLUSION: In the Netherlands, mental health care professionals experience several problems during transition from CAMHS to AMHS and there is a need for improvement. The problems are related to coordination, communication and rules and regulations. Professionals attach importance to improvement through an increase in flexibility and more specialist services for youths. |