If you haven't signed up already, consider registering for this evening's CFMHN April webinar.
Topic: "When you're in the office, it means you managed to get somewhere": perceptions of adolescents with anxiety or mood disorders of accessing primary care for mental health services
Date and time: April 21, 2022, 7-7:30 p.m. ET
Webinar Description:
In Ontario, the majority of children and youth with mental illnesses access primary care as their initial source of mental health services (ICES, 2017). Primary care is said to be the first point of contact for accessing comprehensive and coordinated person-centred care across the lifespan (Starfield, 1994). Primary care can be an ideal setting for accessing mental health services to prevent symptoms from worsening (Cappelli & Leon, 2017). Adolescence is a time when young people experience several developmental changes, making them susceptible to mental illnesses. Examining adolescents' perceptions of access is critical to examining how primary care is accommodating their mental health needs.
The primary purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of adolescents living in Hamilton, Ontario with an anxiety or mood disorder about accessing primary care for mental health services. The study also explored perceptions regarding the role of primary care nurses in facilitating access.
Learning objectives:
1. To get an understanding of the process of access to primary care from adolescents, beginning before entry to care.
2. To understand the different dimensions of access and the multiple levels of ecological influence that impact access for adolescents experiencing anxiety or mood disorders.
3. To learn about strategies health care professionals practicing in primary care can implement to facilitate improved access for adolescents experiencing anxiety or mood disorders.
Presenter: Lisa De Panfilis RN, BScN, MSc
Quality and Risk Consultant - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Lisa is a registered nurse currently working in the role of quality and risk consultant. Her clinical experiences include outpatient mental health and psychiatry, school health, primary care and clinical research nurse in a randomized control trial. She completed her Master of Science at McMaster University in 2020, where she conducted her thesis research on examining adolescents' perceptions of accessing primary care for mental health services. She has been an active volunteer with RNAO for more than six years, and was the 2021 recipient of the RNAO's President's Award for Leadership in Clinical Nursing Practice. She is an advocate for authentic dialogue amongst nurses and healthcare providers which illuminates the challenges faced in clinical practice.