Adolescents with mental health problems: what do they say about health services?

This study explored the health-related views and experiences of adolescent users of mental health services through semi-structured interviews with 32 14-20-year olds who had been diagnosed with a mental illness. The majority of respondents had both negative and positive things to say about their contact with health services. These relate to: the doctor-patient relationship, treatment received, the health-care system, and the environs of the hospital or clinic. The views and experiences of young people with regard to their health care must be taken into account in efforts to boost help-seeking, attendance and compliance rates and, generally, to improve child and adolescent mental health services. In particular, further attention needs to be given to the development of empathic communication skills by health professionals working with adolescents with mental health problems. Work on the health-related views and experiences of representative samples of young people with mental health problems should be prioritized. Copyright 2002 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.