From silos to buckets: a qualitative study of how sexual health clinics address their clients’ mental health needs

Objectives: To describe the current constraints, facilitators, and future prospects for addressing mental health and substance use (MHSU) concerns within sexual health clinics in two cities in British Columbia, Canada. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 22 providers (14 nurses, 3 physicians, 3 administrators, 2 other health professionals) from six sexual health clinics. Results: Providers consistently affirmed that MHSU-related concerns co-occur with sexual health concerns among clients presenting to sexual health clinics. Three factors constrained the providers’ abilities to effectively address MHSU service needs: (1) clinic mandates or funding models (specific to sexually transmitted infections (STI)/HIV or reproductive health); (2) “siloing” (i.e., physical and administrative separation) of services; and (3) limited familiarity with MHSU service referral pathways. Mental health stigma was an additional provider-perceived barrier for sexual health clinic clients. The low barrier, “safe” nature of sexual health clinics, however, facilitated the ability of clients to open up about MHSU concerns, while the acquired experiences of sexual health nurses in counselling enabled clinicians to address clients’ MHSU needs. In response to this context, participants described actionable solutions, specifically co-location of sexual health and MHSU services. Conclusion: Sexual health clinicians in British Columbia generally affirm the results of previous quantitative and client-focused research showing high rates of MHSU-related needs among sexual health clinic clients. Providers prioritized specific short-term (referral-focused) and long-term (healthcare re-organization, co-location of sexual and MHSU services) solutions for improving access to MHSU services for those using sexual health services.