Mental Health Supports and Young People Transitioning from Out-of-home Care in Victoria

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adina Rahamim ◽  
Philip Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
The Impact

Young people transitioning from out-of-home care (OHC) are a vulnerable group. One particular manifestation of disadvantage is poor mental health outcomes which may reflect both the traumatic effects of childhood abuse, and a lack of support on leaving care. This article presents the findings of a small qualitative study undertaken in Victoria which explored the views of OHC and mental health service providers regarding the mental health support needs of care leavers. The findings are consistent with existing research results internationally in highlighting a number of key factors that influence mental health outcomes including the impact of pre-care, in-care and transition from care experiences.

The Experiences of Indigenous Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care in Victoria, Australia

2019 ◽  
pp. 149-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Mendes ◽  
Bernadette Saunders ◽  
Susan Baidawi
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
Care Leavers ◽  
The Impact

This chapter reports on exploratory research in Victoria, Australia, involving focus groups and interviews with service providers and Indigenous care leavers to examine the impact of existing support services. Indigenous children and young people are highly overrepresented in the Australian out-of-home care system. To date, neither specific research focusing on this group’s experiences as they transition from care nor an assessment of the Indigenous-specific and non-Indigenous supports and services available to them have been undertaken. Findings suggest that Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations (ACCOs) play a positive role in working with non-Indigenous agencies to assist Indigenous care leavers. Participants identified a few key strategies to improve outcomes, such as facilitating stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous services and improving ACCO resourcing.

Mental health outcomes among child welfare investigated children: In-home versus out-of-home care

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 106-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie Conn ◽  
Moira A. Szilagyi ◽  
Sandra H. Jee ◽  
Aaron K. Blumkin ◽  
Peter G. Szilagyi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Out Of Home Care

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness — The COPMI Project

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-105
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Fudge
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Outcomes For Children ◽  
The Impact

When adults experience mental health problems, the effect on their family members can be immense. The impact on the person's children, both of the parent's behaviour and of their treatment, can be profound but is frequently overlooked by service providers for a range of reasons. The current national COPMI project has been initiated to promote better mental health outcomes for children of parents with a mental illness, especially by providing information and good practice guidance for services and people in the community who work with these families and their children.

Associations between negative life experiences and the mental health of trans and gender diverse young people in Australia: findings from Trans Pathways

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 808-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Strauss ◽  
Angus Cook ◽  
Sam Winter ◽  
Vanessa Watson ◽  
Dani Wright Toussaint ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Gender Diverse ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Negative Life Experiences

AbstractBackgroundTrans and gender diverse (TGD) young people worldwide experience high rates of poor mental health; however, these rates were unknown in Australia. In addition, how negative life events affect the mental health of TGD young people has been largely unexplored.MethodsThis paper reports on novel mental health findings of Trans Pathways, the largest study ever conducted in Australia with trans (transgender) and gender diverse young people (N = 859; aged 14–25 years). The study was an anonymous online cross-sectional survey undertaken in 2016. Logistic and linear regression models were used to test associations between mental health outcomes and negative life experiences.ResultsTGD young people in Australia experience high levels of mental distress, including self-harming (79.7%), suicidal thoughts (82.4%), and attempting suicide (48.1%). Three in four participants had been diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety (74.6% and 72.2%, respectively). Many TGD young people had been exposed to negative experiences such as peer rejection (89.0%), precarious accommodation (22.0%), bullying (74.0%), and discrimination (68.9%). Most poor mental health outcomes were associated with negative experiences. The strongest associations were found for precarious accommodation and issues within educational settings. For example, participants with a prior suicide attempt were almost six times more likely to have experienced issues with accommodation, including homelessness.ConclusionsThe current results highlight the urgent need for better mental health care and provide insight into areas for targeted mental health interventions. These findings are pertinent for clinicians working with trans young people and wider society.

scholarly journals Prospective examination of mental health in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ru Jia ◽  
Holly Knight ◽  
Kieran Ayling ◽  
Carol Coupland ◽  
Jessia Corner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
The Impact

Background: The impact of changing social restrictions on the mental health of students during the COVID-19 pandemic warrants exploration. Aims: To prospectively examine changes to university students mental health during the pandemic. Methods: Students completed repeated online surveys at three time points (October 2020 (baseline), February 2021, March 2021) to explore relationships between demographic and psychological factors (loneliness and positive mood) and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress). Results: A total of 893 students participated. Depression and anxiety levels were higher at all timepoints than pre-pandemic normative data (p<.001). Scores on all mental health measures were highest in February, with depression and anxiety remaining significantly higher in March than baseline. Female students and those with previous mental health disorders were at greatest risk of poor mental health outcomes. Lower positive mood and greater loneliness at baseline were associated with greater depression and anxiety at follow-ups. Baseline positive mood predicted improvement of depression and anxiety at follow-ups. Conclusion: Depression and anxiety were significantly higher than pre-pandemic norms, with female students and those with previous mental health difficulties being at greatest risk. Given these elevated rates, universities should ensure adequate support is available to meet potentially increased demand for services.

scholarly journals Universal and Selective Interventions to Prevent Poor Mental Health Outcomes in Young People: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-215
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Salazar de Pablo ◽  
Andrea De Micheli ◽  
Marco Solmi ◽  
Dominic Oliver ◽  
Ana Catalan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes

scholarly journals 'Protection or punishment?' The implications of detention on the mental health and well-being of migrants, a review of the literature.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Stagg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Narrative Synthesis ◽  
Immigration Detention ◽  
The World ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Background: The number of individuals forced to leave their home and seek asylum in other countries has risen alongside political instability, conflict and persecution in many parts of the world. These individuals are therefore extremely vulnerable. Many asylum-seekers have witnessed and experienced traumatic events that have contributed to mental illness. Detention is often used to incarcerate asylum-seekers who are waiting for asylum decisions to be made, however many are held in inadequate conditions for long periods of time. With governments using immigration detention increasingly more often, there are serious questions surrounding the impact this has on the mental health of detainees.Methods: A systematic review was undertaken using a comprehensive search strategy across six databases. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included in the review providing that the mental health implications of immigration detention were explored or measured. Grey literature was also searched. The quality of the included studies were appraised and a narrative synthesis conducted in order to establish the main findings of the review. The results of the narrative synthesis were included in a conceptual model that explains how detention works to influence mental health. Results: 22 studies were included in the review. Six themes were identified from analysis of study findings from around the world. Five of those themes also occurred within studies conducted within the UK. In both the UK and globally: detention was associated with poor and deteriorating mental health outcomes; specific conditions inside detention centres were found to contribute to poor mental health; longer durations spent in detention were associated with poorer mental health outcomes; several negative behavioural and emotional responses to the detention experience were observed – particularly in children; the trauma of detention and mental health difficulties developed while in detention remained with individuals after release. In addition to these five themes, a higher number of relocations between detention centres contributed to greater mental distress among detainees outside the UK.Conclusions: This review provides evidence to suggest that an association exists between immigration detention and poor mental health outcomes and that many of the mediators of this relationship are universal. The findings of this paper have several implications for further research and policy. The UK must end indefinite detention and move towards alternative solutions for dealing with asylum-seekers. Detention should only be used as a last resort. Vulnerable individuals, such as children and individuals with existing mental health issues should never be detained. Finally, greater care should be taken to ensure that families with young children are not separated from one-another. Due to the implications of the findings included in this review, it is vital that scientific research of this type is allowed to continue. Future research must evaluate the feasibility and suitability of alternative policies to detention.

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