The association between ethnicity and care pathway for children with emotional problems in routinely collected child and adolescent mental health services data

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016 May;25(5):539-46. doi: 10.1007/s00787-015-0767-4. Epub 2015 Sep 7.

Abstract

Adults from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are less likely to access mental health services through voluntary care pathways and are more likely to access through compulsory ones. The aim of the present research was to explore the association between ethnicity and care pathway through child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), in terms of reason for referral and case closure, in children presenting with emotional problems. A sample of N = 11,592 children from 26 CAMHS was taken from a national routinely collected dataset (56 % female; 7 % aged 0-5 years, 40 % 6-12 years, 53 % 13-18 years, and <1 % 19-25 years). Multinomial logistic regressions showed that BAME children were consistently more likely to be referred to CAMHS through education, social, and other services than primary care, compared to White British children (odds ratio (OR) = 1.52-9.96, p < .001) and they were less likely to end treatment due to child and family non-attendance (OR = 0.59-0.79, p < .05). Similar to adults, children from BAME groups may be more likely to access CAMHS through compulsory than voluntary care pathways.

Keywords: CAMHS; Care pathway; Emotional disorder; Ethnic minority; Referral; Service use.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Adolescent Health Services / trends*
  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / ethnology*
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology*
  • Affective Symptoms / therapy
  • Child
  • Child Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Child Health Services / trends*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Databases, Factual / trends
  • Emotions
  • Ethnicity / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility / trends
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Mental Health Services / trends*
  • Referral and Consultation / trends
  • Young Adult