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Effectiveness of Health System Services and Programs for Youth to Adult Transitions in Mental Health Care: A Systematic Review of Academic Literature

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Abstract

Youth shifting to adult mental health services often report experiencing frustrations with accessing care that adequately replaces the youth services they had received. This systematic review assesses the peer reviewed evidence on services/programs aimed at addressing youth to adult transitions in mental health services. Findings suggest little data exists on the effectiveness of transition services/programs. While the available evidence supports meetings between youth and youth caseworkers prior to transitions occurring, it also verifies that this is not common practice. Other identified barriers to effective transitions were categorized as logistical (ineffective system communication), organizational (negative incentives), and related to clinical governance.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Government of Ontario through a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Health System Research Fund grant entitled ‘Harnessing Evidence and Values for Health System Excellence’. The views expressed in this manuscript are the views of the authors and should not be taken to represent the views of the Government of Ontario. The authors would also like to acknowledge the support and feedback we have received from other Transitions study research team members: Patricia Wakefield, Briano DiRezze, Neil Barr, and Ashleigh Miatello. We also thank our Research Services Librarian Jeannie An, our research coordinator Diana Vania and research assistant Denis Ako-Arrey. Most importantly, our Steering Committee members for their generosity in sharing their time and expertise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Mark G. Embrett, Glen E. Randall, Christopher J. Longo & Gillian Mulvale

  2. Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, CRL Building, 282, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada

    Mark G. Embrett, Glen E. Randall, Christopher J. Longo & Gillian Mulvale

  3. Health Policy and Management, DeGroote School of Business, McMasterUniversity, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Glen E. Randall, Christopher J. Longo & Gillian Mulvale

  4. Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Science and CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Tram Nguyen

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  1. Mark G. Embrett
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Correspondence to Mark G. Embrett.

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Embrett, M.G., Randall, G.E., Longo, C.J. et al. Effectiveness of Health System Services and Programs for Youth to Adult Transitions in Mental Health Care: A Systematic Review of Academic Literature. Adm Policy Ment Health 43, 259–269 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0638-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0638-9

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