Table 4 Youth outcome research within integrated community-based youth service hub models
From: Key attributes of integrated community-based youth service hubs for mental health: a scoping review
Program | Sample size (N) | Outcome measures | Assessment time points | Comparative data | Key results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
headspace [51] | 890 | K10 SOFAS | Initial assessment 6th session 10th session | Different staging groups | Attenuated syndrome (stage 1b) youth used significantly more services than help-seeking (stage 1a) youth, including significantly higher rates of psychotropic medication prescription (9.3% vs. 43.6%) At service entry, Stage 1a youth started with significantly lower levels of psychological distress and significantly higher levels of functioning and showed improvement only in psychological distress over 10 sessions Stage 1b youth remained impaired on both measures after 10 sessions but showed modest improvements in levels of psychological distress and functioning |
headspace [84] | 26,058 headspace clients | K10 SOFAS Surveys | Varied—last recorded K10 | Normative population data Other treatment group No treatment group | Results indicate a small program effect Psychological distress of almost half of headspace clients decreased, with 13.3% experiencing a clinically significant reduction, 9.4% a reliable reduction, and 24.3% an insignificant reduction Psychological distress did not change for almost 29%, and increased for nearly 1 in 4. Youth with only 2–3 service occasions were overrepresented in these groups Suicidal ideation reduced significantly even among youth who showed insignificant or no reduction in psychological distress Youth with improved mental health showed positive economic and social outcomes Reduction in psychological distress over time for headspace group was significantly greater than the other treatment and no treatment groups |
headspace [74] | 70 youth 20 carers | Surveys Semi-structured interviews | Baseline Varied—Wave 1 time point | None at this Wave | 92% reported improved mental health since coming to headspace 79% of youth 12–17 and 48% of youth 18–25 reported improved education engagement 71% of youth 14–17 and 55% of youth 18–25 reported improved work ability Youth reported improved relationships with family (12–17: 81%; 18–25: 58%) and friends (12–17: 72%; 18–25: 58%) 54% reported improved physical health Frequency of using at least one illicit substance decreased from 63 to 40%; three-quarters reported better managing emotions without substance use 85% of carers very satisfied with outcomes from child’s headspace involvement |
headspace [73] | 24,034 headspace clients; 651 at 90-day follow up | K10 SOFAS | K10: prior to 1st, 3rd, 6th, 10th, and 15th visits SOFAS: each visit 90 days after ending services | Comparative outpatient data for RCI score Netherlands mental health clinic NOCC report | Psychological distress significantly reduced in more than one-third of youth Psychosocial functioning improved for a similar proportion 60% experienced significant change when considering improvement in either measure Improvements for youth with greater distress and poorer functioning at intake seen among those who attended more sessions Rate of reliable improvement in psychosocial functioning higher than Netherlands mental health clinic serving similar age range (31 vs. 19%) Outcomes similar to child/adolescent results of NOCC report; higher than adult findings |
Jigsaw [45] | 709 (first session) 315 (final session) | CORE questionnaire (12–16 year olds: YP-CORE; 17–25 year olds: CORE-10) | First session Final session (average is 4.4 sessions over 13 weeks) | None | Significant differences in pre- and post-intervention levels on both measures 89% showed clinical levels of psychological distress pre-intervention, with 52% reporting moderate/severe or severe levels of psychological distress At final session, majority had healthy (47.2%) or low (28.8%) levels of psychological distress 62% showed reliable and clinically significant improvement on the CORE-10; 22% showed reliable improvement only 68% showed reliable improvement on the YP-CORE |
Mom Power group (Corner Health Center) [87] | 23 | Primarily self- rating scales Not further specified | Post-intervention (10 weeks) | None | Improvements in depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and decreased rates of psychiatric diagnoses post-intervention Self-rate as less guilt and shame regarding parenting skills post-intervention |
Spilstead Model [85] | 42 | PSI Being a parent scale CBCL Brigance Screen NCFAS Language Assessments GAS Speech measures | Prior to service entry 12 months post admission | None | Large effect size changes in child-focused outcomes including externalizing behaviors, child well-being, and parent–child interactions 71% of children with delays in the clinical range upon initial developmental screening were within the normal range post-treatment; 41% moved from the below average range to scores within the normal range in language development |
Youth One Stop Shops [38] | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | 94% of clients surveyed believed services effective in improving health and well-being Little robust evidence of health outcomes for youth |
Youth One Stop Shops [127] | Total N = 333 Short-term: N = 272; long-term: N = 257 | Rating scale | July–August 2012 July–Dec 2012 1st visit—Dec 2012 | None | Short term—10% deteriorated, 56% unchanged, 34% improved Long term—17% deteriorated, 37% unchanged, 46% improved Youth with complex needs—3% deteriorated, 39% unchanged, 58% improved 90% of youth and 80% of caregivers interviewed reported the integrated services were a crucial contributor to change |
Youthspace; now Forward Thinking Birmingham [37] | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Only 10% of those referred to the service required secondary care Majority of youth responded well to one-off expert assessment and personalized plan, brief to medium psychological intervention and other support networks 32% were signposted to support network for focused work relating to education, employment and training, with 65% having positive outcome |
Youth Wellness Centre [86] | Ranges: 17–44 | K10 DERS BSL-23 GAIN | Intake 90 days post-intake | None | Significant reduction in psychological distress (K10), emotional dysregulation (DERS), and borderline symptoms (BSL-23) at 90 days post-intake Significant reduction in days bothered by mental health problems, days not meeting responsibilities, and days with problems paying attention as measured by GAIN Significant increase in family relationships satisfaction, general happiness (GAIN) |