Sustained Effects of a School-Based Psychiatry Program

Abstract

To provide access to timely youth psychiatric care, the Bridge Program: School-Based Psychiatry provides interim, school-based psychiatric services by child psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse case managers at no cost to families. In its first year, Bridge served 394 youths, mostly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, within 10 days of referral. Parents and teachers reported significant reductions in symptoms and high ratings of satisfaction and social validity. In the present study, we examine these same indicators during Bridge’s third year of implementation to examine Bridge’s sustained effects. During its third year (January to June 2018), Bridge served 210 youths (the majority were from economically disadvantaged families) within 4 weeks of referral. Outcomes for youth symptoms, treatment adherence, and parent and school personnel satisfaction remained as strong or stronger compared to the first year. These findings demonstrate promise for Bridge’s sustainability and provide implications for school-based providers.

Keywords:

• school mental health
• child psychiatry
• youth mental health
• schools

Notes

1. Bridge did not have the equivalent of a 0.5 full-time equivalent CAP in its third year due to the loss of several CAPs.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Evelyn Cho

Evelyn Cho, MA, is a doctoral student in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri. Her research focuses on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for youth mental health problems in community-based clinical care contexts.

Brigid R. Marriott

Brigid R. Marriott, MA, is a doctoral student in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri. She has worked as a multisystemic therapist for juvenile offenders and their families and provided therapy and diagnostic assessment for a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and disruptive behavior problems. Her primary research interests are in improving mental health services for youth and the implementation of evidence-based practices for youth and families in community mental health settings.

Keith C. Herman

Keith C. Herman is a Curator’s Distinguished Professor in the Department of Education, School, & Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri. He is the co-founder and co-director of the Missouri Prevention Science Institute. He has an extensive grant and publication record including over 120 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of prevention and early intervention of child emotional and behavior disturbances and culturally sensitive education interventions.

Carole L. Schutz

Carole L. Schutz, RN, MS, is the program manager and co-founder of the MU Bridge Program: School-Based Psychiatry at the University of Missouri, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine. She has practiced in child psychiatry for over 30 years.

Laine Young-Walker

Laine Young-Walker, MD, is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She currently serves as associate dean for student programs at the School of Medicine, the chair of the Department of Psychiatry, and is a professor of psychiatry at University of Missouri Health Care. She has worked locally to create programs that help children in the community by increasing access to child psychiatry and prevention/early intervention for young children. These programs include Bridge: School-Based Psychiatry, the Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project (MO-CPAP) Early Childhood-Positive Behavior Supports program (EC-PBS), the System Offering Actions for Resilience (SOAR) in early childhood, and the Boone County: Early Child Coalition.