Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with mental health-related support and service contact in children and young people aged 5-16 in England

Mental health problems are common in children and young people (CYP) in England, yet evidence suggests high levels of unmet need. Understanding of the determinants of mental health-related service contact is needed to identify gaps in provision and areas for targeted intervention to improve access. A secondary analysis of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2017 (MHCYP-2017) cross-sectional survey dataset was performed. This analysis describes mental health-related support and service contact amongst a national stratified probability sample of 6681 participants aged 5-16. A range of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were analysed as explanatory variables and their relationships with different types of support and service contact were examined through multivariable multinomial logistic regression. Analyses were stratified by age group: 5-10- and 11-16-year-olds. Analyses revealed strong associations between participant socio-demographic/clinical characteristics and mental health-related support and service contact, independent of CYP mental health status and parental perception of difficulties. Among these associations, socio-economically disadvantaged and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic CYP were less likely to have had professional contact for mental health problems in both age groups. Findings suggest there may be higher levels of unmet need in socio-economically disadvantaged and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic CYP, warranting further investigation and efforts to address inequalities.