What do inner city general practitioners want from a child and adolescent mental health service?

Abstract

Aims and method: We surveyed 25 general practitioners (GPs) on their needs from their local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to improve liaison and inform service development. Results: Most GPs refer to specialist services. Only a quarter deal with problems themselves. The top priority was easy and quick access to services. The most popular topics for GP training were interactions between teenagers and their parents, child abuse and eating disorders. No GP had formal training in child and adolescent psychiatry and further training was a low priority. Clinical implications: Such a survey has helped to develop a closer partnership between GPs and their local CAMHS using a service- response model. It has raised concerns about the under-identification of child mental health problems. It has informed CAMHS of the service and training needs of local GPs.