November 2002

Forum tackles adolescent mental health

Hypothetical case studies and a presentation by Beyondblue National Depression Initiative Senior Program Manager Karen Field were highlights of a forum on anxiety and depression in adolescents.

The Department of Human Services’ Northern Metropolitan Region’s Working Together Strategy Reference Group hosted the forum, recognising 10 per cent of children and 20 per cent of adolescents are affected by depression and anxiety in any one year.

The Reference Group, chaired by Regional Director Richard Deyell, includes senior Government and non-Government representatives from across adolescent protective, child and adolescent mental health, juvenile justice, drug and alcohol, disability, police and residential services.

The forum attracted more than 80 Department and non-Government agency staff.

Professionals included youth, family and protective workers, student welfare coordinators, secondary school nurses, psychologists, residential house managers, drug and alcohol clinicians, case managers, consumer advisors and community corrections officers.

Speakers addressed attachment theory, personal experience in service usage, constraints in working in a residential setting, drugs as a form of self-medication and issues for young people with borderline intellectual disability.

Speakers included Fellow in Child Psychotherapy at the Royal Children’s Hospital Lyndie Freestone and past service user, Lisa Mitchell, who has recovered from anxiety and depression.

During discussions, participants identified key issues in working with young people with anxiety and depression.

The anxiety and depression forum follows an information session earlier in the year on self harm.