Researchers examined seven high-quality studies from the Netherlands, USA, and Norway exploring "jointly held care documents"—treatment plans shared openly between healthcare professionals, teenagers, and parents. The question was simple: should young people and families have access to and input on the care plans created for them?
The studies included teenagers receiving mental health treatment and the professionals supporting them. While the exact sample sizes weren't specified in the review, the research consistently compared outcomes and attitudes when care documents were shared versus kept confidential.
Teenagers and parents want to see the full picture
When young people and parents could access and contribute to their own care plans, they reported feeling more included in treatment, more engaged with their healthcare, and more satisfied overall. This makes intuitive sense: a teenager who understands what's being recommended, why, and what to expect is more likely to follow through with treatment. For parents, shared documents mean you're not left guessing at what's happening or piecing together vague updates.
Healthcare professionals have hesitations—but no evidence backs them up
Doctors and therapists expressed concerns about sharing detailed clinical information: worries about privacy complications, the extra time required to create documents together, and whether shared information might damage the therapeutic relationship. Some questioned whether involving young people in documentation made sense, especially during crisis moments.
Here's the crucial point: these professional concerns weren't rooted in research showing harm. They were reservations about process and workload. This suggests the barriers could shift with better systems and training.
Why this matters in a Singapore context
Across Asia, including Singapore, there's often an expectation that medical professionals hold all information and families receive filtered updates. This can leave teenagers feeling disconnected from their own care during vulnerable moments. Adolescence is precisely when young people are building independence and learning to manage their own health. When excluded from understanding their care plans, families miss an opportunity to build a teenager's health literacy and responsibility. A young person who helped shape their treatment is far more likely to engage meaningfully with it.
What you can do now
- Ask your teen's therapist or psychiatrist: can we see the treatment plan together and discuss how it applies to our family's situation?
- Request written summaries of appointments and recommendations, rather than relying on your teenager to relay information after sessions.
- If your healthcare provider is hesitant about shared access, ask what specific concerns they have—and whether a compromise (like a simplified shared summary) might work.