Experiences of Remote Provision across a Voluntary Sector Organisation Providing Mental Health and Wellbeing Services for Young People.



Worsley, Joanne, Hassan, Shaima, Nolan, Lisa and Corcoran, Rhiannon
(2023) Experiences of Remote Provision across a Voluntary Sector Organisation Providing Mental Health and Wellbeing Services for Young People. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20 (22). 7086-.

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Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic presented not only challenges for services but also opportunities for reflection and change. This study aimed to understand young people, parents/carers, and professionals' experiences of remote provision across a voluntary sector organization to inform the nature of future delivery. Reflections from professionals (<i>n</i> = 7), young people (<i>n</i> = 7), and parents/carers (<i>n</i> = 2) were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Data were thematically analysed. Five overarching themes were identified: 'Accessibility', 'Remote therapeutic experiences', 'Translating to online', 'Spaces of comfort/discomfort', and 'Moving towards hybrid provision'. The COVID-19 pandemic changed service provision, notably with accelerated digitalisation. Although the service became more accessible, the digitalisation of services impacted the relational experiences for young people. Nevertheless, online provision was described as a 'steppingstone', allowing young people to engage in online therapy or group programmes before transferring to in-person provision. Although remote provision can lead to improvements in young people's mental health, this format was not suitable for all. When considering future models of provision, assessing needs, preferences, and access to private space and hardware are all important considerations when deciding which format to use to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Humans, Focus Groups, Mental Health, Adolescent, Population Groups, Pandemics, COVID-19
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 23 Nov 2023 14:20
Last Modified: 30 Nov 2023 13:22
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20227086
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20227086
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3176993