Feasibility of a single question: Mental health surveillance in chronic disease

Overview

The prevalence of mental health concerns in children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions is thought to be 2–3 times higher than in the general population. In the absence of routine screening processes, medical and nursing staff do not consistently identify mental health concerns during routine clinical interactions. This can lead to delays in access to appropriate assessment and treatment. The objective was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a single mental health surveillance question to carers of children with chronic disease in the inpatient setting.  

Our approach

During the admission process nurses asked carers of children aged 2–17 years with chronic medical conditions the following question, “thinking about your child’s mental health over the past 4 weeks, are they thriving/coping/struggling/always overwhelmed?’ 213 carers responded to the question. This study showed that a single mental health surveillance question appears acceptable to carers and nursing staff and has a high level of specificity for children who are ’struggling’ or ‘always overwhelmed’.