Stigma and other barriers to health and social care services among youth in Greater London

Background/Objectives: Despite the evidence supporting early intervention as a means of mitigating onset of more severe psychopathology, most children in the United Kingdom do not receive treatment for their mental illness. Delays to service use are common and often only occur once the youth has already experienced significant impairment, clinical symptoms and stigma, the effects of which can be difficult to reverse. Stigma may directly impact access to mental health care and indirectly influence mental health problems. Stigma, however, may influence access in different ways for youth with various presentations…