Characteristics of young people referred for treatment of depression and anxiety in a school-based mental health service.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the paper was to describe referrals to a UK school-based mental health service for children and adolescents.

Methods: Children and young people (CYP) (N = 485, aged 4-18) were referred to two Mental Health Support Team sites in the South of England in 2021, for CBT-informed interventions for mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. Child and parent reported outcome measures were completed pre-intervention, including measures of symptom severity and impact.

Results: Referrals consisted of 61% female, 57% secondary school age (12-18 years old) and 81% White British. Children of secondary school age self-reported significantly higher levels of anxiety (p = .003) and depression (p < .001) than children of primary age. Females self-reported significantly higher levels of anxiety (p < .001) and depression (p < .001) than males. The majority of CYP self-reported below or borderline threshold anxiety, depression and overall internalizing symptoms. The majority of caregiver-reported CYP difficulties met the clinical threshold for anxiety and overall internalizing symptoms, but not depression.

Conclusions: The findings have direct relevance to the transformation and delivery of school-based public mental health services for children and adolescents. There is a need to collect routine data from other services to assess the broader needs of CYP referred for low intensity early interventions across regions.