Uso de servicios de atención psicológica en jóvenes del sistema de protección y justicia juvenil: Un estudio exploratorio

Abstract

Use of psychological care services in young people from the juvenile justice and protection system: An exploratory study Abstract: The objective was to identify the factors associated (i.e., demographic and clinical) with the use of mental health services in adolescents involved in the juvenile protection and justice system in Catalonia, Spain. The sample consisted of 227 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years. Apart from gathering sociodemographic and treatment information the Youth Self Report was administered to assess psychopathological symptoms. The results showed that 54.2% of participants indicated that they were receiving psychological care. The regression analysis indicated that being younger, being involved in the protection system and presenting higher levels of transgressive behaviors predicted greater use of mental health services. There was no association with any of the internalizing problems. Since referral is the initial step towards using the mental health service, it is important that professionals receive the necessary training to carefully assess the young people under their care and refer them to the correspondent health services. Keywords: Adolescence; service use; juvenile justice; child protection; psychopathology. Resumen: El objetivo fue identificar los factores asociados (i.e, demográficos y clínicos) con el uso de servicios de atención psicológica en adolescentes atendidos por el sistema de protección y justicia juvenil en Cataluña, España. Participaron 227 adolescentes, de 12 a 17 años. Además de obtener datos sociodemográficos y sobre la atención psicológica, se administró el Youth Self Report para evaluar la sintomatología psicopatológica. Un 54.2 % de los adolescentes indicó estar recibiendo atención psicológica. El análisis de regresión indicó que ser más joven, estar en el sistema de protección y presentar niveles superiores de conductas trasgresoras predijeron un mayor uso de servicios de atención psicológica. No hubo asociación con ninguno de los problemas de internalización. Dado que la derivación es el paso inicial para la utilización del servicio de salud mental, es importante que los trabajadores reciban la capacitación necesaria para evaluar cuidadosamente y derivar a los jóvenes bajo su cuidado a los servicios de salud necesarios. Palabras clave: Adolescencia; uso de servicio; justicia juvenil; protección infantil; psicopatología.

From Social Rejection to Welfare Oblivion: Health and Mental Health in Juvenile Justice in Brazil, Colombia and Spain

“…In Spain, no studies have been reported that jointly address the mental health of children and juvenile criminal justice systems. However, a recently published article partially addresses this dimension, focusing on the analysis of psychological care as an entry filter to mental health treatment [81]. The study included a sample of children and adolescents institutionalized in both the protection and juvenile criminal justice systems.…”