Interprofessional collaboration in mental health settings: a social network analysis

ABSTRACT

This paper provides the first assessment of patterns of interprofessional collaboration in headspace centres – Australia’s youth mental health service – to determine if agencies established to integrate care, deliver collaboration across professional boundaries. The staff of two headspace centres were surveyed to identify with whom they collaborated during routine work, and when faced with uncertain situations. Social network analysis was used to assess interprofessional collaboration within each center and across varying situations. Interprofessional collaboration was identified in both routine and uncertain situations. Staff of headspace (clinical and non-clinical) maintained a tendency to collaborate with colleagues outside of their professional group, compared to within. Networks were well connected when staff collaborated in routine work and when faced with uncertainty related to decision-making. However, there were fewer interactions during times of role uncertainty. The headspace centre that had been in operation for longer showed greater indicators of cohesiveness. Future research should consider context and self-organization when considering the efficacy of networks.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional collaboration
• mental health care
• social network analysis
• uncertainty