eprintid: 10269
rev_number: 4
userid: 6
dir: disk0/00/01/02/69
datestamp: 2011-11-10 20:10:03
lastmod: 2016-11-15 13:54:10
status_changed: 2011-11-10 20:10:03
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: mcauleykm@hotmail.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: McAuley, Kristen Michelle
creators_email: mcauleykm@hotmail.com
title: Adolescence Explored: Mental Health and Substance Abuse in an Underserved Population
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_behavioralcommhealthsci
full_text_status: public
keywords: Adolescence; mental health; substance abuse
abstract: The Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health held in 2000 brought attention to the fact that children and adolescents with mental health and substance abuse problems are an underserved population. Rates of psychiatric disorders are high among this population, yet very few adolescents who need help actually receive it. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to examine various aspects of adolescent health, including rates of mental health and substance abuse as well as treatment and mental health service utilization among this population. Barriers to care are discussed, with emphasis on gender, ethnicity, psychiatric diagnosis, treatment setting, and parental influences. In the past, the specialty mental health care sector has been relied on to provide treatment for adolescents. This thesis examines school-based mental health services, and Student Assistance Programs in particular, as alternatives to treatment for the adolescent population. School-based clinics have the potential to reduce some barriers to care, hence increasing rates of care for adolescents with mental health and substance abuse problems. Other recommendations to reduce barriers to care and increase rates of treatment are presented. Mental health and substance abuse have a significant impact on the health of the nation. These disorders cause or exacerbate numerous health problems, including cancer and heart disease. In 1996, mental health problems cost the United States $150 billion in direct and indirect costs (USDHHS, 2000). The relevance of public health in this thesis is exemplified by the potential of public health to decrease the health consequences associated with these disorders by working to increase rates of treatment.
date: 2004-12-17
date_type: completed
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Terry, Martha Ann
etdcommittee_name: Fertman, Carl
etdcommittee_name: Hershey, Nathan
etdcommittee_email: materry@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: carl@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: hershey@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: MATERRY
etdcommittee_id: CARL
etdcommittee_id: HERSHEY
etd_defense_date: 2004-12-02
etd_approval_date: 2004-12-17
etd_submission_date: 2004-12-10
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
assigned_doi: doi:10.5195/pitt.etd.2011.10269
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
committee: Martha Ann Terry, PhD (materry@pitt.edu) - Committee Chair
committee: Carl Fertman, PhD (carl@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
committee: Nathan Hershey, LLB (hershey@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
etdurn: etd-12102004-083752
other_id: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12102004-083752/
other_id: etd-12102004-083752
citation:   McAuley, Kristen Michelle  (2004) Adolescence Explored: Mental Health and Substance Abuse in an Underserved Population.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/10269/1/mcauleykm_etd2004%5B1%5D.pdf