Accessing mental health walk-in clinics and other services for children and families

BACKGROUND: Mental health walk-in clinics (MHWCs) are a model of service delivery that has gained increasing interest and traction. The aim of the study was to better understand how MHWC use is related to use of other services provided by agencies. OBJECTIVES: (1) Explore if and how MHWCs are used alongside other services, including the different time points (e.g. MHWCs used exclusively, MHWCs used before other agency services); (2) identify correlates of MHWC use alongside other agency services. DESIGN: Administrative data from two child and youth mental health agencies in Ontario were extracted, including demographics, visit data, and presenting concerns. METHODS: In this exploratory, descriptive study, analyses of administrative data were conducted to identify patterns and correlates of MHWC use before other agency services, compared with MHWC use exclusively. RESULTS: More than half of families used MHWCs and other agency services before or concurrently with other agency services. Child age, guardianship, and disposition at discharge emerged as correlates of MHWC use before other agency services. CONCLUSIONS: MHWCs are sufficient for some families, easing the pressure on other agency services. For the remaining families, MHWCs can help support them at the beginning of their service use journey.