Manager Perspectives on Services Addressing Mental Health Needs of Youth in Physical Rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND

Youth mental health is becoming a priority, but models for organizing services in physical rehabilitation centres to meet the growing needs of youth with chronic physical disabilities and mental health problems are scarce. Initial research revealed barriers faced by youth, families and rehabilitation specialists when accessing or providing mental health services for this population. This study explores managers' perspectives on challenges, strengths and opportunities for mental health service delivery and integration in physical rehabilitation at the organizational level.

METHODS

Two semistructured focus groups were conducted with nine managers across five organizations offering rehabilitation services in a large Canadian city. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Barriers and facilitators expressed by managers fell into three categories: (1) available clinical resources for mental health (access to mental health specialists within internal team and internal organizational structures and mandates), (2) clinician workforce capacity (internal mental health knowledge and professional development for staff in physical rehabilitation and external mental health professionals' knowledge in physical disability) and (3) links and partnerships with key players (working in silos, external organizational structures and procedures and actions to improve pathways to access mental health services across external programs and organizations).

CONCLUSIONS

Managers' insights can guide the development of policies and advocacy for change at the organizational level to support mental health service delivery within physical rehabilitation. This can be done by building capacity on mental health knowledge and skills of rehabilitation teams and establishing collaborative partnerships and well-coordinated procedures within and outside of their organizations.