Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Mental Health
Date Submitted: Jan 7, 2021
Date Accepted: Apr 17, 2021
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Navigation Tools for Locating Mental Health Treatment and Supportive Services: User Needs and Experiences
ABSTRACT
Background:
Despite a recent proliferation in online and digital resources designed to assist users in finding appropriate mental health treatment and supportive services, it can be overwhelming, confusing, and difficult for an individual or family member to access and utilize an appropriate navigation tool. As digital resources are increasingly sought after, there is an urgent need for a clearer understanding of online navigation tools in order to help link individuals with the one best suited to their needs.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to determine current needs of individuals seeking mental health treatment and supportive services and quantify their experiences and satisfaction with available online navigational tools.
Methods:
A survey was offered via email newsletter and social media posting throughout the extended membership of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which includes both individuals with a mental health condition and their family members and support networks. A 13-item anonymous survey which consisted of multiple choice and open response options was developed to measure participants’ past use of and experience with online, mobile, and phone-based navigation tools. The survey was available from April 9th through May 21st, 2020.
Results:
A total of 478 respondents completed the survey; the majority of respondents were both female-identified (83%) and 55 years or older (50.6%). Younger respondents were more likely to report seeking services for themselves, while older respondents were more likely to be searching on behalf of a family member. The majority of respondents seeking on behalf of a family member (58.2%) required a combination of mental health treatment and supportive services. Two-thirds of respondents (67.4%) had used a navigation tool to find treatment or services. The majority of respondents who provided feedback about their experiences with navigation tools (80%) reported difficulty, with data availability and accuracy being the most commonly reported issues.
Conclusions:
The survey results suggest that issues with data availability and accuracy in available navigation tools remain a major barrier for locating timely and appropriate mental health treatment and supportive services within this population. Particularly among individuals seeking care on behalf of a family member, improving the accuracy and user experience of navigation tools could have a major impact on effective connection to treatment and support services.
Citation
