Implementation of Transdiagnostic Psychosocial Group Interventions and a Novel Peer Work Role in a Community Youth Mental Health Setting

Aims

Group interventions can be an appropriate care option for young people with mental ill-health, yet there is a lack of research on their implementation within real-world settings. This paper aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of group interventions and a Group Coordinator peer work role in a community mental health service and the perspectives of young people, carers and staff on implementation.

Methods

A retrospective chart audit of 121 referrals to group interventions from January 2022 to June 2023 was conducted. Education, demographic and administrative data were collected to explore feasibility and acceptability. Survey data from 44 young people who participated was also used to explore acceptability. Semi-structured interviews (8 young people, 7 carers and 11 staff) explored perspectives on implementation, mapping barriers and facilitators to domains of the Comprehensive Framework for Implementation Research.

Results

Referrals made before the young person was involved in mental health treatment (i.e., at the stage of assessment) were less likely to result in engagement in a group, suggesting limited feasibility as a standalone care option. Young people reported overall positive experiences of group interventions, though attrition rates and qualitative interviews indicate they are perceived as less acceptable than individual options. The Group Coordinator role was viewed by staff as key to sustainability, with multiple benefits.

Conclusions

The current paper contributes to the scant literature on the implementation of group interventions with several practical implications for service planning. Further studies are needed to examine the implementation in other contexts, explore within-treatment variables and incorporate clinical outcomes.