Does youth-friendly mental health care improve therapeutic engagement and psychosocial outcomes?
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| Title: | Does youth-friendly mental health care improve therapeutic engagement and psychosocial outcomes? |
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| Authors: | Allison, Stephen (AUTHOR), Bastiampillai, Tarun (AUTHOR), Kisely, Steve (AUTHOR), Looi, Jeffrey CL (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Australasian Psychiatry. Aug2025, Vol. 33 Issue 4, p623-628. 6p. |
| Subjects: | Youth health, Patient dropouts, Evidence-based psychotherapy, Adolescent psychotherapy, Therapeutics, Social skills, Youth services |
| Abstract: | Objectives: We discuss the paradox of young people dropping out of the Australian Government national youth psychotherapy programme (headspace), which is co-designed by youth people. Conclusions: A very large percentage of young people drop out of psychotherapy before completing evidence-based treatment. Youth-friendly psychotherapy services are hypothesised to improve therapeutic engagement and psychosocial outcomes. However, empowered young people may not choose greater engagement with psychotherapy. For example, the Australian Government recognises the right to youth-friendly services and headspace emphasises providing young people with access to support where, when, and how they want. Most appear to want very short courses of psychotherapy (1–3 sessions), which are associated with lower than expected psychosocial outcomes compared to other real-world services. Only the 20% who engage in 6 or more sessions have outcomes comparable to other psychotherapies. These findings have international significance because similar youth-friendly psychotherapy programmes are being established around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Objectives: We discuss the paradox of young people dropping out of the Australian Government national youth psychotherapy programme (headspace), which is co-designed by youth people. Conclusions: A very large percentage of young people drop out of psychotherapy before completing evidence-based treatment. Youth-friendly psychotherapy services are hypothesised to improve therapeutic engagement and psychosocial outcomes. However, empowered young people may not choose greater engagement with psychotherapy. For example, the Australian Government recognises the right to youth-friendly services and headspace emphasises providing young people with access to support where, when, and how they want. Most appear to want very short courses of psychotherapy (1–3 sessions), which are associated with lower than expected psychosocial outcomes compared to other real-world services. Only the 20% who engage in 6 or more sessions have outcomes comparable to other psychotherapies. These findings have international significance because similar youth-friendly psychotherapy programmes are being established around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10398562 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10398562251351445 |
