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01-06-2015 | Original Contribution

Mental health care use among children and adolescents in Germany: results of the longitudinal BELLA study

Authors: Birte Hintzpeter, Fionna Klasen, Gerhard Schön, Catharina Voss, Heike Hölling, Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, The BELLA study group

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 6/2015

Abstract

Data on mental health care use of children and adolescents in Germany is scarce. This study investigates the degree of mental health care use, its trajectories and influencing factors among children and adolescents in Germany, using longitudinal data of the BELLA study. The BELLA study is the mental health module of the representative German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Baseline data of N = 2,863 participants aged 7–17 years were collected between 2003 and 2006. The study sample was followed up in three additional measurement points, assessing general mental health problems and impairment, specific mental health problems, and mental health care use. In the current study, we analysed data from the first three measurement points. At baseline, 5.9 % of all participants used mental health care in the past 12 months. Among those with general mental health problems, 29.5 % sought professional help. Only a minority of participants reporting mental health care use at baseline also sought help at the following two measurement points. Analysing a random intercept only model, mental health care use was found to be more likely among participants living in larger communities as well as in the Eastern part of Germany, among those participants with impairment of mental health problems, and signs of externalizing problems. Our results indicate a temporary character of mental health care use. Participants’ impairment was identified to be the strongest predictor of mental health care use.

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Title: Mental health care use among children and adolescents in Germany: results of the longitudinal BELLA study
Authors: Birte Hintzpeter
Fionna Klasen
Gerhard Schön
Catharina Voss
Heike Hölling
Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer
The BELLA study group
Publication date: 01-06-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 6/2015
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-015-0676-6

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Mental health care use among children and adolescents in Germany: results of the longitudinal BELLA study

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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