29 Jan Services shake-up and improved access to child psychiatrists for kids under 12
Barriers preventing high-quality mental health care for children have been revealed by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)
The clinicians surveyed have called for a system-wide shake-up, including improved access to child psychiatrists, mental health training, co-located support services and referral pathways and Medicare funding changes.
Research at a Glance
- A Melbourne-led study of 143 clinicians has found fragmented services, long wait times and inadequate training are among the barriers preventing adolescents and children from receiving high-quality mental health care in Australia
- The clinicians called for improved access to child psychiatrists, mental health training, better co-located support services and referral pathways and changes to Medicare funding
- Researchers stated improving access to high-quality mental health care for children was crucial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, telehealth may not be effective for those with complex mental health problems
The clinicians surveyed have called for a system-wide shake-up, including improved access to child psychiatrists, mental health training, co-located support services and referral pathways and Medicare funding changes.
A shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists, especially for children under 12 years, combined with lengthy waiting lists have led to clinician burnout, particularly in regional areas, the study found.
Melbourne GP Dr Scott Parsons said given GPs were often the initial contact for parents concerned about their child’s mental health they were best placed to ensuring a timely and specifically tailored treatment plan but this rarely happened.
“This can result in frustrated parents giving up or seeking alternative options due to the lack of a clear roadmap to the detriment of the child,” he said.
MCRI Professor Harriet Hiscock stressed the rise of telehealth may not deliver effective care for children and adolescents with complex mental health problems, which could increase due to trauma from COVID-19.
“With the pandemic, most clinicians have pivoted to telehealth,” she said. “Anecdotally, this seems to suit many families and clinicians, but rigorous evaluations haven’t been done and telehealth may just not deliver effective care for children and adolescents with complex mental health problems.”
Researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, University of Melbourne, The Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Adelaide also contributed to the study.
