Psychosocial predictors of adolescent depression and mental health referral in an urban mobile medical unit programme

<i>Introduction:</i> Given worsening youth mental health over the past years, mobile medical units are a potential avenue to increase access to mental healthcare services.<i>Methods:</i> This 1-year retrospective study examined a self-administered psychosocial assessment, and referrals made to mental health services for adolescent patients served by a mobile medical unit. We extracted psychosocial assessment responses, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores, and mental health referral information for patients seen by the mobile medical unit in 2022 and examined rates and predictors of depression and referral to mental health services.<i>Results:</i> Of the 326 patients who completed the psychosocial assessment, one in five had moderate to severe depression symptoms based on PHQ-9 scores. Factors associated with referral to mental healthcare included female gender identity, LGBTQ+ identity, and several factors from the psychosocial assessment. Additionally, 13.8% wanted a mental health referral, and 16.6% were referred to mental healthcare. Patients who desired to see a mental health provider had higher odds of being referred (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). All patients with moderate to severe depression who were not already connected to mental healthcare and wanted a referral were referred.<i>Conclusion:</i> This study documents the impact of a mobile medical unit programme in identifying adolescent patients with mental health needs and referring them to mental healthcare.