Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings: a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families

Anna Roach; Sophie Bennett; Isobel Heyman; Anna Coughtrey; Neha Batura; Lina Gonzalez; Nicki Astle; Rebekah Coates; Jessie Drinkwater; Rebecca Evans; Una Frederick; Michael Groszmann; Steve Jones; Katie McDonnell; Sarah Marley; Amanda Mobley; Abbie Murray; Helena O'Sullivan; Sarah Ormrod; Nyah Patel; Theo Prendegast; Usha Rajalingam; Venkat Reddy; Ameenat Lola Solebo; Isabella Stokes; Emily Webster; Rebecca Webster; Gareth Vinton; Roz Shafran

doi:10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1

Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings: a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families

Anna Roach, Sophie Bennett, Isobel Heyman, Anna Coughtrey, Neha Batura, Lina Gonzalez, Nicki Astle, Rebekah Coates, Jessie Drinkwater, Rebecca Evans, Una Frederick, Michael Groszmann, Steve Jones, Katie McDonnell, Sarah Marley, Amanda Mobley, Abbie Murray, Helena O'Sullivan, Sarah Ormrod, Nyah PatelTheo Prendegast, Usha Rajalingam, Venkat Reddy, Ameenat Lola Solebo, Isabella Stokes, Emily Webster, Rebecca Webster, Gareth Vinton, Roz Shafran

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people with long-term health conditions, access to timely and effective treatment is often difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services for young people with long-term health conditions and their families at six paediatric healthcare settings in England. Methods: This was a prospective non-randomised single-arm multi-centre interventional study. Young people up to 25 years old with a long-term health condition, and their families were eligible. The primary outcome was the change in the total difficulties score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire between baseline and 6 months. Interventions provided were standard evidence-based low intensity cognitive-behaviour therapy, onward referral or signposting. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with services and cost. Results: Accessing the drop-in services led to significant reductions in emotional and behavioural symptoms (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.39) and improved quality of life (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.44). Parental depression and anxiety significantly improved (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.30 and d = 0.34). The average waiting time for an initial assessment was 13.42 days. High levels of satisfaction were reported. The cost per patient was approximately half the estimated cost of a typical course of psychological therapy. Conclusions: Drop-in mental health services are effective and acceptable and can be delivered at low cost per patient for young people with long term conditions. This model of care is a feasible approach for increasing access to evidence-based mental health treatment in paediatric healthcare settings. Trial registration: ISRCTN15063954, Registered on 9 December 2022.

Original language	English
Article number	546
Pages (from-to)	546
Journal	BMC Health Services Research
Volume	25
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1
Publication status	Published - 14 Apr 2025

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Young Adult
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
England
Mental Disorders/therapy
Mental Health Services/organization & administration
Patient Satisfaction
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires

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10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1

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Roach, A., Bennett, S., Heyman, I., Coughtrey, A., Batura, N., Gonzalez, L., Astle, N., Coates, R., Drinkwater, J., Evans, R., Frederick, U., Groszmann, M., Jones, S., McDonnell, K., Marley, S., Mobley, A., Murray, A., O'Sullivan, H., Ormrod, S., ... Shafran, R. (2025). Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings: a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 546. Article 546. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1

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title = "Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings: a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families",

abstract = "Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people with long-term health conditions, access to timely and effective treatment is often difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services for young people with long-term health conditions and their families at six paediatric healthcare settings in England. Methods: This was a prospective non-randomised single-arm multi-centre interventional study. Young people up to 25 years old with a long-term health condition, and their families were eligible. The primary outcome was the change in the total difficulties score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire between baseline and 6 months. Interventions provided were standard evidence-based low intensity cognitive-behaviour therapy, onward referral or signposting. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with services and cost. Results: Accessing the drop-in services led to significant reductions in emotional and behavioural symptoms (p < 0.01; Cohen{\textquoteright}s d = 0.39) and improved quality of life (p < 0.01; Cohen{\textquoteright}s d = 0.44). Parental depression and anxiety significantly improved (p < 0.01; Cohen{\textquoteright}s d = 0.30 and d = 0.34). The average waiting time for an initial assessment was 13.42 days. High levels of satisfaction were reported. The cost per patient was approximately half the estimated cost of a typical course of psychological therapy. Conclusions: Drop-in mental health services are effective and acceptable and can be delivered at low cost per patient for young people with long term conditions. This model of care is a feasible approach for increasing access to evidence-based mental health treatment in paediatric healthcare settings. Trial registration: ISRCTN15063954, Registered on 9 December 2022.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Young Adult, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, England, Mental Disorders/therapy, Mental Health Services/organization & administration, Patient Satisfaction, Prospective Studies, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires",

author = "Anna Roach and Sophie Bennett and Isobel Heyman and Anna Coughtrey and Neha Batura and Lina Gonzalez and Nicki Astle and Rebekah Coates and Jessie Drinkwater and Rebecca Evans and Una Frederick and Michael Groszmann and Steve Jones and Katie McDonnell and Sarah Marley and Amanda Mobley and Abbie Murray and Helena O'Sullivan and Sarah Ormrod and Nyah Patel and Theo Prendegast and Usha Rajalingam and Venkat Reddy and Solebo, {Ameenat Lola} and Isabella Stokes and Emily Webster and Rebecca Webster and Gareth Vinton and Roz Shafran",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

pages = "546",

journal = "BMC Health Services Research",

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Roach, A, Bennett, S, Heyman, I, Coughtrey, A, Batura, N, Gonzalez, L, Astle, N, Coates, R, Drinkwater, J, Evans, R, Frederick, U, Groszmann, M, Jones, S, McDonnell, K, Marley, S, Mobley, A, Murray, A, O'Sullivan, H, Ormrod, S, Patel, N, Prendegast, T, Rajalingam, U, Reddy, V, Solebo, AL, Stokes, I, Webster, E, Webster, R, Vinton, G & Shafran, R 2025, 'Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings: a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 25, no. 1, 546, pp. 546. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1

TY - JOUR

T1 - Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings

T2 - a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families

AU - Roach, Anna

AU - Bennett, Sophie

AU - Heyman, Isobel

AU - Coughtrey, Anna

AU - Batura, Neha

AU - Gonzalez, Lina

AU - Astle, Nicki

AU - Coates, Rebekah

AU - Drinkwater, Jessie

AU - Evans, Rebecca

AU - Frederick, Una

AU - Groszmann, Michael

AU - Jones, Steve

AU - McDonnell, Katie

AU - Marley, Sarah

AU - Mobley, Amanda

AU - Murray, Abbie

AU - O'Sullivan, Helena

AU - Ormrod, Sarah

AU - Patel, Nyah

AU - Prendegast, Theo

AU - Rajalingam, Usha

AU - Reddy, Venkat

AU - Solebo, Ameenat Lola

AU - Stokes, Isabella

AU - Webster, Emily

AU - Webster, Rebecca

AU - Vinton, Gareth

AU - Shafran, Roz

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/4/14

Y1 - 2025/4/14

N2 - Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people with long-term health conditions, access to timely and effective treatment is often difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services for young people with long-term health conditions and their families at six paediatric healthcare settings in England. Methods: This was a prospective non-randomised single-arm multi-centre interventional study. Young people up to 25 years old with a long-term health condition, and their families were eligible. The primary outcome was the change in the total difficulties score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire between baseline and 6 months. Interventions provided were standard evidence-based low intensity cognitive-behaviour therapy, onward referral or signposting. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with services and cost. Results: Accessing the drop-in services led to significant reductions in emotional and behavioural symptoms (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.39) and improved quality of life (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.44). Parental depression and anxiety significantly improved (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.30 and d = 0.34). The average waiting time for an initial assessment was 13.42 days. High levels of satisfaction were reported. The cost per patient was approximately half the estimated cost of a typical course of psychological therapy. Conclusions: Drop-in mental health services are effective and acceptable and can be delivered at low cost per patient for young people with long term conditions. This model of care is a feasible approach for increasing access to evidence-based mental health treatment in paediatric healthcare settings. Trial registration: ISRCTN15063954, Registered on 9 December 2022.

AB - Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people with long-term health conditions, access to timely and effective treatment is often difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services for young people with long-term health conditions and their families at six paediatric healthcare settings in England. Methods: This was a prospective non-randomised single-arm multi-centre interventional study. Young people up to 25 years old with a long-term health condition, and their families were eligible. The primary outcome was the change in the total difficulties score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire between baseline and 6 months. Interventions provided were standard evidence-based low intensity cognitive-behaviour therapy, onward referral or signposting. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with services and cost. Results: Accessing the drop-in services led to significant reductions in emotional and behavioural symptoms (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.39) and improved quality of life (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.44). Parental depression and anxiety significantly improved (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 0.30 and d = 0.34). The average waiting time for an initial assessment was 13.42 days. High levels of satisfaction were reported. The cost per patient was approximately half the estimated cost of a typical course of psychological therapy. Conclusions: Drop-in mental health services are effective and acceptable and can be delivered at low cost per patient for young people with long term conditions. This model of care is a feasible approach for increasing access to evidence-based mental health treatment in paediatric healthcare settings. Trial registration: ISRCTN15063954, Registered on 9 December 2022.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Young Adult

KW - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

KW - England

KW - Mental Disorders/therapy

KW - Mental Health Services/organization & administration

KW - Patient Satisfaction

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

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U2 - 10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1

DO - 10.1186/s12913-025-12681-1

M3 - Article

C2 - 40229828

SN - 1472-6963

VL - 25

SP - 546

JO - BMC Health Services Research

JF - BMC Health Services Research

IS - 1

M1 - 546

ER -

Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services in paediatric healthcare settings: a non-randomised multi-site study for children, young people and their families

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Keywords

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