Continuity of Care in Children’s Mental Health: Parent, Youth and Provider Perspectives

Continuity of care, how individuals experience care over time as coherent and linked, is considered an ethical principle of care. While continuity has been examined extensively in the adult health literature, there is a paucity of studies examining continuity in children’s mental health care. Using qualitative semi-structured interviews with parents, youth, and service providers, the current study found themes and issues unique to this healthcare context, such as coordination across sectors; risks to discontinuity, such as transitions; and consequences of discontinuity, such as parents acting as liaisons. Implications of these findings are discussed.