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Barriers to Mental Health Care for Urban, Lower Income Families Referred from Pediatric Primary Care

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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of parent-reported barriers on the likelihood of attending a mental health evaluation after referral from pediatric primary care. As the part of procedure, parents of children (N = 55) referred for mental health from primary care completed a 23-item questionnaire (three subscales; Cronbach alpha > 0.7): intangible barriers, tangible barriers, and child functioning. Logistic regression examined associations between responses and referral follow-through. The results showed that the high levels of intangible barriers were associated with decreased odds of attending the mental health evaluation (OR = 0.20, 0.06–0.83; P = 0.03). Therefore, we conclude that parental concerns about mental health care may be important for engagement in treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was made possible through the Thomas Wilson Sanitarium for the Children of Baltimore City and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Pilot Research Award for Junior Faculty and Child Psychiatry Fellows supported by Eli Lilly.

Conflict of interest

Pilot award (2008–2009) for primary author sponsored by Eli Lilly. No disclosures for other authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Justine Larson & Emily Frosch

  2. Arlington County Department of Human Services, Arlington, VA, USA

    Justine Larson

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Susan dosReis

  4. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Miriam Stewart

  5. Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Rochelle Kushner

  6. Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Barry Solomon

Authors
  1. Justine Larson
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  2. Susan dosReis
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  3. Miriam Stewart
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  4. Rochelle Kushner
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  5. Emily Frosch
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  6. Barry Solomon
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Correspondence to Justine Larson.

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Larson, J., dosReis, S., Stewart, M. et al. Barriers to Mental Health Care for Urban, Lower Income Families Referred from Pediatric Primary Care. Adm Policy Ment Health 40, 159–167 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-011-0389-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-011-0389-1

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