Adolescent engagement in mental health services

Despite older adolescence being a risk period for the development of mental health concerns, mental health service engagement is low amongst 16-18 year olds. As therapeutic attendance is linked to clinical outcome, it is important to understand engagement in this population. There is a paucity of research looking specifically at the older adolescent engagement phenomenon. Previous qualitative research into adolescent experiences has provided rich and detailed results.
Ten 16-18 years olds, engaged in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, were recruited from two London-based services. Each young person was interviewed in order to understand their personal experience of engaging in mental health services. Interviews were transcribed and underwent Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
Analysis produced twelve subthemes subsumed within five superordinate themes: engagement begins at help seeking, strength of inner resolve, evolution of the self, in the clinic room, and, existing within service walls: physical and policy-based boundaries. Themes are discussed in detail.
Conclusions are drawn in relation to previous theory and research. When considering 16-18 year understandings of the engagement phenomena, key elements include: clinician and service developmental appropriateness, negotiation of developmental tasks in relation to engagement, experience of the physical building environment, and awareness of service policy limitations. Suggestions for clinical practice in relation to engagement facilitators and threat are made, and recommendations for future research proposed.