Internationale Zeitschrift für öffentliche Gesundheit und Sicherheit

Perspectives on Integrated Mental Health Care for Autism in Pediatric Primary Care

Abstract

Sisira Sarma

For children with autism spectrum disorder to receive complete care, it is crucial to quickly identify their mental health needs and connect them to providers (ASD). With the help of integrated care strategies, paediatric primary care is well-positioned to aid this process. This study used the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment framework to characterise factors that influence implementing integrated care practises for ASD as a first step toward mental health integration. The identification of mental health needs in children with ASD and access to mental health services were the topics of focus groups and surveys that were completed by sixty paediatric primary care doctors and leaders from three organisations. Results were combined to investigate convergence (i.e., did the two methods confirm or produce results that were similar) and expansion.