Identifying patient-oriented models for sexual and mental health service integration

Publicly funded sexual health clinics are unique settings that address the health-related needs of a diverse group of patients. Canadian research has shown that one third of sexual health clinic patients specifically report needing to access mental health or substance use (MHSU) services. Half of these patients do not have a family doctor, and most have not spoken with a provider about their MHSU needs. This study includes patients, sexual health providers (doctors and nurses), mental health providers (counsellors, psychologists), and administrators. We will first survey sexual health patients to measure specific MHSU needs, including those related to anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, and drug and alcohol use that has become problematic. We will then interview patients to find out how they would like for the sexual health clinic to meet these needs. Results from this study will be used to develop new approaches to addressing MHSU conditions in sexual health clinics. These approaches may include websites that help to refer patients to affordable and easy-to-access MHSU services, training for sexual health clinicians, and patient self-management tools. In the long-term, this research will help ensure that patients who otherwise lack support are able to access the right services at the right time, and in turn are less likely to suffer from the burdens of conditions like depression, anxiety, suicide, and problematic drug use.