Studies have shown that once youth emancipate from foster care, there is a dramatic drop (60%) in the utilization of services. Reasons for mental health service disruption are unclear, but studies in the general population have consistently found that a person’s perception, knowledge, and attitudes toward mental health services are significant in the utilization of services. This qualitative study sought to examine the perceptions formed by former foster youth about the mental health services received while in foster care, and whether these perceptions might have an impact on the utilization of mental health services post foster care. Thirteen former foster youth with a mental health treatment history while in foster care were interviewed. Qualitative content analysis with a deductive approach was used to analyze the data. Results show that lack of self-determination, no explanation given for referral to mental health services, and mandated mental health services, increased the negative perceptions youth formed about services. Perception of helpfulness of services also impacted the discontinuation of services post foster care. Findings from this study suggest that self-determination in the referral to services and treatment can significantly impact a youth’s perception of the services received and subsequent use of these services post foster care. Similarly, a hesitation to engage in mental health services was due to an inconsistency in the receipt of services due to placement instability, which lead to negative perceptions of services.

研究表明，一旦青年从寄养中解放出来，对服务的利用就会急剧下降（60%）。精神卫生服务中断的原因尚不清楚，但对普通人群的研究一致发现，一个人对精神卫生服务的感知、知识和态度对服务的利用具有重要意义。这项定性研究旨在检验前寄养青年对寄养期间接受的心理健康服务形成的看法，以及这些看法是否可能对寄养后心理健康服务的利用产生影响。采访了 13 名在寄养期间有心理健康治疗史的前寄养青年。使用演绎方法的定性内容分析来分析数据。结果表明，缺乏自决权、没有解释转介精神卫生服务和强制精神卫生服务，增加了青年对服务形成的负面看法。对服务有用性的看法也影响了寄养后服务的中断。这项研究的结果表明，在转介服务和治疗时的自我决定会显着影响青年对接受的服务的看法以及在寄养后对这些服务的后续使用。同样，由于安置不稳定导致接受服务的不一致，从而导致对服务的负面看法，因此对从事精神卫生服务的犹豫不决。增加了青年对服务形成的负面看法。对服务有用性的看法也影响了寄养后服务的中断。这项研究的结果表明，在转介服务和治疗时的自我决定会显着影响青年对接受的服务的看法以及在寄养后对这些服务的后续使用。同样，由于安置不稳定导致接受服务的不一致，从而导致对服务的负面看法，因此对从事精神卫生服务的犹豫不决。增加了青年对服务形成的负面看法。对服务有用性的看法也影响了寄养后服务的中断。这项研究的结果表明，在转介服务和治疗时的自我决定会显着影响青年对接受的服务的看法以及在寄养后对这些服务的后续使用。同样，由于安置不稳定导致接受服务的不一致，从而导致对服务的负面看法，因此对从事精神卫生服务的犹豫不决。这项研究的结果表明，在转介服务和治疗时的自我决定会显着影响青年对接受的服务的看法以及在寄养后对这些服务的后续使用。同样，由于安置不稳定导致接受服务的不一致，从而导致对服务的负面看法，因此对从事精神卫生服务的犹豫不决。这项研究的结果表明，在转介服务和治疗时的自我决定会显着影响青年对接受的服务的看法以及在寄养后对这些服务的后续使用。同样，由于安置不稳定导致接受服务的不一致，从而导致对服务的负面看法，因此对从事精神卫生服务的犹豫不决。