ERIC Number: EJ1327732
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Feb
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Mental Health Project ECHO Autism: Increasing Access to Community Mental Health Services for Autistic Individuals
Dreiling, Nicole Ginn; Cook, Michal L.; Lamarche, Elena; Klinger, Laura Grofer
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v26 n2 p434-445 Feb 2022
Despite the high prevalence of co-occurring autism spectrum disorders and mental health condition(s), there exist substantial barriers to mental health treatment for autistic individuals. These barriers are exacerbated by a lack of mental health provider training and self-efficacy in providing adapted services to autistic individuals. One method which has been effective in mitigating similar service gaps is the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO) Autism model, a tele-mentoring platform that connects primary care physicians to autism spectrum disorder experts to improve physicians' knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice. This study developed and implemented a pilot mental health version of Project ECHO Autism designed to increase mental health provider knowledge, self-efficacy, and problem-solving. Community mental health providers (N = 51) participated in the 6-month Project ECHO Autism including mental health-focused didactics and provider case presentations. Analysis of pre- and post-measures revealed improvements in all domains, including significant increases in provider knowledge of autism spectrum disorders, self-efficacy, and problem-solving. Participants additionally reported high satisfaction with their experience. Taken together, preliminary results indicate that Project ECHO Autism may be a feasible, accessible, and effective method for increasing mental health provider competence and ultimately increasing access to services for autistic individuals who have co-occurring mental health diagnoses.
Descriptors: Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Comorbidity, Mental Disorders, Access to Health Care, Barriers, Mentors, Physicians, Expertise, Knowledge Level, Self Efficacy, Problem Solving, Professional Development, Program Effectiveness, Competence, Satisfaction, Telecommunications, Electronic Learning, Consultation Programs
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A