“Friendly, local and welcoming” – evaluation of a community mental health early intervention service
Journal of Children's Services
ISSN: 1746-6660
Article publication date: 7 August 2023
Issue publication date: 17 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Half of adulthood mental health challenges begin by the age of 14-years-old, making the need for early-intervention clear. This study aims to evaluate a new service model that promotes early-intervention through a community based low-intensity Hub.
Design/methodology/approach
Clinical data from 2,384 young people were analysed through within-group, pre- and post-comparisons and qualitative survey, and interview data was analysed through content analysis.
Findings
Overall, participants reported that they were highly satisfied with the Hub and the low-intensity brief interventions met their needs. Participants reported that learning new skills, having a place to talk and positive therapeutic relationships were beneficial. The Hub appeared to be less successful for young people with complex mental health difficulties. As a service, the adoption of the Hub model reduced waiting list times by more than half.
Research limitations/implications
The quantitative data demonstrated that engaging with the Hub reduced symptoms of psychological distress. Qualitative analyses suggest that access to local, community, welcoming and “less clinical” support was beneficial, and the type of brief interventions offered was less important than therapeutic relationships.
Originality/value
This is the first study of a novel “Hub” model for low-intensity brief interventions in a socio-economically deprived area of England. Local knowledge, community integrated support, therapeutic relationships and a welcoming environment were viewed as more beneficial than the type of brief interventions offered. Consequently, community spaces can be created to be therapeutic and beneficial for mental health outside of a traditional conceptualisation of clinical support.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all participants and stakeholders who took part in this study.
Funding: Department for Health and Social Care, England, UK.
Since acceptance of this article, the following author has updated their affiliation: Sarah Louise Parry is at the Lancaster University.
Since acceptance of this article, the following author has updated their affiliation: Daniela Di Basilio is at the University of Manchester.
Citation
Parry, S.L., Eve, Z., Stamou, V., Brockway, A. and Di Basilio, D. (2023), "“Friendly, local and welcoming” – evaluation of a community mental health early intervention service", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 18 No. 3/4, pp. 233-243. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-12-2021-0053
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited