Impact of a mental health program on the utilization of the psychiatric clinic in sporting students' hospital.

: The evaluation of the multi-sectoral collaborative school mental health program conducted in Alexandria from 1987 to 1990 has to be done along various dimensions (Seif El-Din et al.). The aim of the present work is to investigate the trend change in utilization of the psychiatric clinic in the Students' Hospital (Sporting) through comparing pre-program years (1983/84-1987/88) trend with program years (1988/89-90/91) trend. The source of information about clinic utilization consisted of two registers; one for new cases and the other for return visits. The utilization trend of the psychiatric clinic for return visits showed an increased rate of referral through program years as compared to pre-program trend expected rates. Similarly, new visits trend of referral showed the same picture except for nocturnal enuresis. These findings lend further support for the positive impact of the previously mentioned program on the knowledge and detection skills of school physicians. Meanwhile, they highlight the need for further concern regarding their skills in management of mental disorders.