A world-first mental health program at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Hospital School SA is receiving global attention as a benchmark in mental health and education for children and young people.
The Supporting Improved Mental Health in Schools program allows children and young people with mental health concerns the opportunity to remain connected to their education during and after their hospital visit or admission.
Women’s and Children’s Hospital School staff have been invited to present the world-first program in New Zealand and Italy, with almost a dozen countries and other Australian states looking to adapt the program locally.
The Supporting Improved Mental Health in Schools program was developed in partnership with Hospital School SA and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services clinicians, including Mallee Ward staff, Emergency Mental Health Nurse Consultants, allied health and social work staff.
The collaboration shares the expertise between the two key areas of education and mental health to ensure a safe return to school forms a key component of mental health treatment for children and young people.
Providing greater support for South Australians with mental health concerns is a priority for the Malinauskas Labor Government.
During our first term of government, we are investing in 100 new mental health and learning support specialists to work at public primary and secondary schools, to ensure students and teachers get the help they need.
We have also recruited six additional mental health nurses at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and will be recruiting 10 more child psychologists and five psychiatrists at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
We are also partnering with psychiatrists to develop a long-term plan addressing critical workforce shortages in psychiatry in South Australia.
The Women’s and Children’s Hospital Emergency Mental Health team receives more than 4,000 contacts a year for young people in a mental health crisis. Last year, more than 35 per cent of children and adolescents at Hospital School SA had a mental health concern.
Last year, 68 per cent of mental health admissions to the Mallee Ward continued with their education and the remaining 32 per cent received transition and/or pathway support sessions across 625 South Australian schools.
The Supporting Improved Mental Health in Schools program addresses the increasing number of school students experiencing mental health concerns who aren’t attending school or who are disengaging with their learning and their peers.
Hospital School SA and mental health staff involve the young person and their family in discussions about their education goals and options, and will work with their enrolled school to re-engage the student in learning during and after their time in hospital.
Quotes
Attributable to Chris Picton
The mental health of children and young people is so vital and it’s important we take a holistic approach to their treatment and wellbeing.
The Supporting Improved Mental Health in Schools program is a wonderful initiative between health and education and just another example of the world class care we provide in South Australia.
It’s not surprising that other countries are recognising the value of this first of its kind, innovative program, that is making a significant difference in the lives of children and young people.
Attributable to Blair Boyer
Mental health and wellbeing in students are of particular importance to me as Education Minister. We can’t expect our children and young people to do well academically if their mental health is struggling.
Emergency presentations for mental health result in prolonged absences from school and disengagement from learning but also students’ interactions with their peers.
This collaborative approach between health and education is helping children and young people maintain consistency in their education, to keep them connected to their school community and ensures they are supported.
Attributable to Matthew McCurry, Principal, Hospital School SA
A significant number of our students are in hospital because of a mental health concern, and this through-care model has proven invaluable in meeting the needs of our young people regarding their mental health and education.
This multidisciplinary approach has been able to address the barriers, triggers and stressors that impact our young people which enables the opportunity to engage, or re-engage, them with education.
Attributable to Tim Crowley, Nursing Director, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Women’s and Children’s Health Network
This unique service is centered around the drive to put the needs of our children and young people at the heart of education engagement, to break down the complex concerns from educational environments and to establish clear responsibility a coherent offer of support.
Only by working in partnership, sharing expertise, and making the best of our knowledge and resources can we achieve the improvements in mental health outcomes that we all want to see for the patients we support.
