Evaluating Crisis Intervention Services for Youth within an Emergency Department: A View from Within

Abstract

An innovative crisis intervention program was created at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Canada in order to provide emergency assessments for youth presenting with mental health crises. The current investigation presents an overview of the program and examined the emergency staff's perception and satisfaction with it. Eighty-seven emergency department medical staff completed a survey. Overall, emergency department staff place high value on having access to emergency mental health services, are pleased with the quality of service and appreciate that the crisis intervention worker's presence allows them to spend more time with other patients. RésuméUn programme d'intervention de crise novateur a été développé au Centre hospitalier de l'est de l'Ontario du Canada pour évaluer les enfants et adolescents présentant des problèmes de santé mentale. La présente recherche présente un aperçu du programme et examine la perception et la satisfaction du personnel de l'urgence vis-à-vis celui-ci. Quatrevingt sept employés du personnel médical de l'urgence ont complété un sondage. De façon générale, les employés sont satisfaits de la qualité du service offert par ce programme. Ils apprécient la présence des intervenants de crise, ce qui leur permet de passer plus de temps avec d'autres patients.Crisis Intervention 3

Strength-based crisis programming: Evaluating the process of care

“…Many of the current program evaluations focus on assessing staff or professional perspectives (Dion et al, 2010;Krupa et al, 2010). Although program staff and other professionals offer an important viewpoint, clients can provide a unique outlook because they are the individuals with lived experiences and are immersed in the program.…”

“…Moreover, a circle of care can provide support and alternative resources to access when attempting to resolve future crises. As well, the research literature on crisis intervention programs has also found that connecting service users to external agencies and professionals (Dion et al, 2010;Krupa et al, 2010;Malla, Norman, McLean, Scholten, & Townsend, 2003;Vingilis et al, 2007), can support the attainment of independent community living, as depicted in the Outcome component of the conceptual model.…”

“…Further, it was collaboratively decided that this type of approach would not continue to marginalize the voices of those Page 7 of 56 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 6 in crisis. As many evaluations tend to focus on staff perspectives (e.g., Dion, Kennedy, Cloutier, & Gray, 2010;Krupa, et al, 2010) by obtaining clients" and service providers" perspectives and experiences, a gap in the research literature was being addressed.…”

Les services en santé mentale pour les jeunes francophones de la région d’Ottawa

“…Plusieurs rapports et articles déplorent un manque de services pour venir en aide à cette tranche de la population (Reid et Brown, 2008;CEPSM, 2010;Dion, et collab., 2010). En ce qui concerne les jeunes francophones ayant des problèmes de santé mentale, la situation se présente de façon encore plus complexe.…”

Police encounters among a community sample of children and youth accessing mental health services

“…In practice, although there is some consensus about the merits of crisis intervention services, the research is again fragmented and based on the experiences of adults. Crisis intervention services are considered to be least intrusive, provide effective support for both the person and family, as well as divert people away from emergency room visits, involvement with police, and/or costly out-of-home placements (Dion, Kennedy, Cloutier, & Gray, 2010;Doulas & Lurigio, 2010;Ruffin, Spencer, Abel, Gage, & Miles, 1993;Shulman & Athey, 1993). Moreover, there are significant concerns about the lack of coordination between systems, such as the child and youth mental health and police systems (Doulas & Lurigio, 2010;Duvall, Young, & KaysBurden, 2012).…”