Improved knowledge base

The purpose of work package 1 is to strengthen our knowledge regarding how we do our best in organizing the help and treatment of children and young people with mental health problems and mental disorders. Within this work package, we will map the current offers across sectors for children and young people with mental health problems, along with gathering data about how widespread these problems are and how they evolve. We also want to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems to understand the extent of the possible increase along with its causes. 

Additionally, we want to do investigations based on health registers, surveys, and interviews to help us understand what characterizes children and young people with mental health problems and how to ensure that they are given the proper treatment at the right time. 

Background

There is a large disparity in the help and treatment offered to children, young people, and their relatives based on the region, municipality, and postal code they live within. 

Furthermore, we lack a clear definition of what we mean by well-being, mental health problems, and mental health disorders and it is, therefore, unclear what kind of help should be offered to each child, adolescent, and their relatives. 

This confusion can lead to situations where some children are not given the necessary help. 

To solve these issues effectively and scientifically, we need to ensure that the data being used across municipalities, regions, and private specialists are consistent and that we agree on definitions and approaches. 

Therefore, work package 1 plays a crucial role in creating a collective knowledge base for all of Denmark. 
It is important for us here at the Best for Us-project to ensure that all children and young people are given equal access to evidence-based and substantiated help and care. 

Ansvarlige

The overall responsible for work package 1 are Professor Søren Paaske Johnsen, Ph.D., Head of Danish Center for Health Services Research Aalborg University and Marlene Briciet Lauritsen, MD., Ph.D., Professor, Head of Research Unit for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – North Denmark Region.