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Preventing Youth from Falling Through the Cracks Between Child/Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review of Models of Care

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Abstract

Optimizing the transition between child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) is a priority for healthcare systems. The purpose of this systematic review is to: (1) identify and compare models of care that may be used to facilitate the transition from CAMHS to AMHS; and (2) discuss trends and implications to inform future research and practice. Results identified three models of care which move beyond healthcare services and incorporate a broader range of services that better meet the dynamic needs of transition-aged youth. Joint working among providers, coupled with individualized approaches, is essential to facilitating continuity of care.

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Acknowledgements

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 first author would like to acknowledge support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Scholarship (2013–2016) and Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016–2019). The authors would like to acknowledge the support and feedback we have received from other Transitions study research team members: Patricia Wakefield, Ashleigh Miatello, and Christopher Longo. We also thank our Research Services Librarian Jeannie An. Most importantly, thank you to our Steering Committee members for their generosity in sharing their time and expertise.

Funding

This study was funded 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 funding source had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1C7, Canada

    Tram Nguyen & Briano DiRezze

  2. CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1C7, Canada

    Tram Nguyen & Briano DiRezze

  3. School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada

    Tram Nguyen

  4. Health Policy & Management, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M4, Canada

    Mark G. Embrett, Neil G. Barr, Gillian M. Mulvale, Diana K. Vania & Glen E. Randall

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

    Mark G. Embrett, Neil G. Barr, Gillian M. Mulvale & Glen E. Randall

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  1. Tram Nguyen
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  2. Mark G. Embrett
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Correspondence to Tram Nguyen.

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Nguyen, T., Embrett, M.G., Barr, N.G. et al. Preventing Youth from Falling Through the Cracks Between Child/Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review of Models of Care. Community Ment Health J 53, 375–382 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0098-7

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