Continuity of care for children with mental health problems: experiences of children, parents and social workers

The paper presents the results of a qualitative study focused on the continuity of care for children and adolescents with mental health difficulties in the Czech Republic. The research is based on interviews with children (n=33), their legal guardians (n=4), and social workers (n=10), which were analyzed with an emphasis on the experiential perspective of the individual actors. The findings indicate that the system of care is fragmented, with long waiting times for professional help and insufficient availability of specialized services. Children describe repeated experiences of bullying, stigmatization, and misunderstanding within the school environment, which significantly contribute to their feelings of isolation and helplessness. Parents emphasize their sense of helplessness, administrative burden, and the lack of clear information about available forms of support. Social workers highlight, in particular, barriers to interdisciplinary cooperation and a shortage of capacities, especially in the field of child psychiatry and crisis services. Nevertheless, the presence of a key worker—often in the role of a social worker—proves to play a crucial role in ensuring continuity of support, coordinating services, and strengthening the family system. The experiences of children further confirm the importance of trust, a safe relationship, and an individualized approach that enables them to feel heard and respected. The paper underscores the necessity of systematically developing mental health centers for children, strengthening prevention, improving the availability of psychotherapy, and creating effective mechanisms for intersectoral cooperation between education, health care, and the social sphere. The findings may serve as a basis for innovations in social work, aiming at greater accessibility, comprehensiveness, and timeliness of support for children with mental health difficulties and their families.