Experiences of Care for Adolescents With Mental Health Difficulties in Acute Paediatric Services: A Systematic Review.
L Kirwan, E Apriyanti, G Sheaf and 2 others
PMID 40506401WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescents with mental health difficulties in acute paediatric services felt neglected and unsafe, while staff reported stigma and inadequate training.
Families were dissatisfied with symptom management. Care requires specialist pathways, de-stigmatised communication, and environmental adjustments.
Key findings
01Healthcare professionals reported personal barriers including stigma, viewing mental health issues as self-inflicted, and prioritising acute medical conditions over adolescent mental health needs.
02Adolescents described negative interpersonal interactions where nurses displayed stigmatising attitudes, making them feel neglected, unimportant, and misunderstood.
03Families were least satisfied with how emergency department services helped reduce their child's symptoms or helped their child get well.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only three studies explored adolescents' perspectives and one explored families' perspectives, limiting the depth of patient and family voice. Two out of three studies involving adolescents or families were rated as low quality. Most included studies focused on healthcare professionals' experiences rather than patient outcomes. Small sample sizes and diverse settings across the 16 studies may limit the generalisability of the findings.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this review provides evidence for the efficacy of specific interventions. It synthesises experiences and identifies barriers and facilitators, but it does not test whether the recommended changes, such as new care pathways or training, actually improve clinical outcomes for adolescents.