A case control/follow up study of Hard to Reach Young People
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A case control and follow up study of an Innovations Project set up to investigate the feasibility of identifying, treating and improving outcomes in ‘Hard to Reach’ Young people with multiple complex mental disorders.
IRAS ID
123655
Contact name
Nigel Camilleri
Contact email
Research summary
Young People (YP) are a group with high rates of long-term morbidity and mortality (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 2003). 75% of mental disorders emerge before the age of 25 therefore their successful access to mental health services is a public health priority (March, Szatmari et al 2007). Within this demographic group 'Hard to Reach' Young People (HTR YP) are often the most disadvantaged marginalised and sometimes homeless minority. Less than 25% of UK mental health services have transitional arrangements for YP as they move from child focussed to adult orientated service provision (Singh 2009). Furthermore 30-60% of YP are reported to be lost to follow-up once they have ben discharged from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) (Singh 2009, Singh, Paul et al 2010). HTR YP appear to be unwilling to encourage with the services that do exist and tend to slip through the healthcare net (Doherty, Stott et al 2004, Social Exclusion Unit 2005). Thus these HTR YP may be particularly vulnerable and likely to have multiple complex unmet needs (Social Exclusion Unit 2005). However, whether this is true or not has not yet been demonstrated conclusively.
The Innovations Project was set up in an inner city Darzi walk-in centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne from January to December 2011 wit the aim to identify whether it s possible to engage and offer therapeutic intervention to a cohort of HTR YP who are not in contact with mental health services.
The aims of the research project are:
1. To identify whether this cohort of HTRYP have more severe mental disorders than those attending a community based mental health service (CBMHS). To describe both groups of YP aged 15-25, who were discharged from either service between October and December 2011.
2. To carry out a clinical case notes on a sample of HTR YP who completed an assessment within the Innovations Project and a matched sample of YP who attended the CMHS. The samples will be matched for time of discharge (between October to November 2011), age and gender.
3. To carry out a follow-up case control study of a matched sub-sample of YP who attended the Innovations Project and the CBMHS.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NE/0150
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion