What is the Early Intervention Services for Parents, Children and Young People measure?
The Early Intervention Services for Parents, Children and Young People measure aims to support mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention for all children through universal evidence-based school and early childhood programs; and through targeted programs aimed at those children who are at highest risk of developing mental health problems, or who have early signs, symptoms or diagnosis of mental health problems. It forms part of the Commonwealth's component of the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
Responsibility for the Early Intervention Services for Parents, Children and Young People measure rests with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Why is this important?
An estimated 14-20% of children and adolescents are affected by a mental health problem every year, but only one in four receives any professional help.
Mental health problems in childhood and adolescence can have far reaching effects on the physical well-being, educational, psychological and social development of individuals. Children who are mentally healthy are better able to:
- learn;
- experience stronger relationships with teachers, family members and peers;
- negotiate challenges including the transition into adolescence and then adulthood;
- achieve long-term education and career goals; and
- enjoy a better quality of life.
When early signs of difficulty are not addressed, mental health problems can potentially become more serious and possibly extend into mental disorders. For those experiencing mental disorders, early intervention and a more supportive environment can lead to better mental health outcomes later in life.
Who will benefit?
The measure aims to provide support to children, young people and parents, in particular those at highest risk or showing early symptoms of mental health problems. Research into risk and protective factors reveals that there are a number of groups within the population that have particular mental health needs and can be at increased risk of developing mental health disorders. Additional attention and support for these groups can potentially prevent mental health difficulty. These groups include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people;
- children affected by significantly adverse life events such as severe trauma, loss or grief; and
- children of parents with a mental illness.
What is Early Intervention Services for Parents, Children and Young People delivering?
The Early Intervention Services for Parents, Children and Young People measure aims to support mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention for all children through universal evidence-based school and early childhood programs; and through targeted programs aimed at those children who are at highest risk of developing mental health problems, or who have early signs, symptoms or diagnosis of mental health problems. It forms part of the Commonwealth's component of the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
A suite of KidsMatter activities is being delivered under the measure. This suite of activities includes:
- national roll-out of the KidsMatter Primary School initiative;
- development and piloting of a KidsMatter Early Childhood initiative;
- development of the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander KidsMatter Early Childhood initiative
- development and implementation of the KidsMatter Transition to School: Parent initiative;
- development and distribution of Response Ability, a resource for helping trainee early childhood workers and pre-service pre-school, early childhood, primary and secondary teachers understand resilience, wellbeing and mental health; and
- provision of support for groups at highest risk: children who have experienced significant trauma, loss and grief, children of parents with a mental illness, and children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background.
The Child Mental Health Stakeholder Forum has been established under this measure to provide an opportunity to consider recent developments and exchange information in relation to the important area of child mental health. The Forum meets several times a year.
How will it work?
KidsMatter
The KidsMatter Primary initiative aims to promote mental health, prevent mental illness and initiate early intervention where necessary among primary school students in the school setting.
The KidsMatter Transition to School: Parent initiative aims to support children and parents during the transition from preschool to primary school through an evidence-based approach that promotes positive parenting behaviours and practice and improves the knowledge of parents relating to the issues children face when transitioning to school.
Under the KidsMatter Early Childhood initiative, work is continuing to expand the KidsMatter concept into early childhood settings such as preschools and long day care. A specific initiative addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander children is under development.
MindMatters
MindMatters is a related school based initiative. MindMatters is the national mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention for secondary schools. It provides evidence based resources for classroom use, training for teachers and support for school leadership.
Response Ability
The Response Ability initiative provides educational resources and information to teacher education and VET Institutions so that graduates of teaching and children’s services programs are able to acquire the fundamental skills and knowledge they will need to participate actively in mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention and to support the use of evidence-based and evidence-informed programs in their workplace.
Initiatives for High Risk Groups
The measure also provides support and resources for children at highest risk of developing mental health problems, including additional support to ensure parents, primary schools and early childhood settings are able to appropriately identify and refer children at increased risk early, to prevent progression of early symptoms of mental illness into more serious disorders.
The Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma Loss and Grief Network
This initiative is a web based network, with website content that is informed by a panel of experts in different areas related to children and adolescents and their trauma, loss and grief. The goal of the network is to offer key resources to: professionals and community workers providing services for children and adolescents experiencing trauma, loss and grief; professionals and administrators involved in research, policy, education, and training; and parents and other caregivers and interested members of the community. The Network is hosted through the Australian National University and can be accessed at www.earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness
The Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association have been funded to provide support, information and resources to health and frontline professionals and families regarding Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI).
Indigenous Kids Help Line
Kids Help Line has experienced a continuing demand from Indigenous young people for telephone counselling. The project aims to continue Kids Help Line’s capacity to respond effectively as developed in the previously funded programs and to introduce a safe and secure mechanism for accessing programs for targeted communities of Indigenous young people.
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What funding is attached to this measure?
$28.1 million of over five years (2006 to 2011).
When did Early Intervention Services for Parents, Children and Young People start?
Developmental work on this measure commenced in 2006-07.
Further information
The following are related initiatives:
- Children of Parents with a Mental Illness;
- KidsMatter Primary;
- KidsMatter Early Childhood;
- MindMatters;
- Response Ability;
- Australian Children and Adolescent Trauma Loss and Grief Network.
Page currency, Latest update: 21 July, 2008