News release

From: Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)

Australian-first clinical practice guidelines have been created to better support and treat young people struggling with a mental health crisis.

The new advice, developed in partnership with clinicians and researchers at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), The Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics, will aid healthcare professionals to identify, assess and manage acute mental health symptoms in young patients aged up to 19 years.

It follows a systematic review that found no specific clinical guidance exists for younger people with mental health conditions who present with suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Importantly, researchers from the Melbourne Children’s Campus ensured young people with a lived experience of an acute mental health episode or hospitalisation were directly involved in the guide’s design.

MCRI researcher Sydney Stevens said the guidelines, part of the Melbourne Children’s Campus Mental Health Strategy, would help curb the national rise in hospitalisations among youths for intentional self-harm.

“From the beginning, it was critical we listened to young people who had experiences of suicidal ideation and self-harm in order to bridge the gap between evidence and real-world application,” she said.

“We wanted to understand where systems have caused harm, where care has fallen short and how services must change to better support vulnerable young people. These guidelines offer a range of practical and responsive recommendations that can be disseminated and used to improve care.”

The guidelines, officially recognised by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACPG), include:

• Risk assessment based on a young patient’s circumstances and support network
• Support for responding to suicidal distress and NSSI outside of hospitals, including schools and community spaces
• Consistent emergency and urgent care for those presenting in acute crisis or distress
• Evidence-based treatment in specialist and primary care clinics
• Better considerations around medication prescribing
• More person-centred and culturally safe care

Ms Stevens’ sentiment was reflected by lived experience advisor *Johnny who said many young people felt ‘failed and hurt’ by a lack of tailored care.

“We need to look to the future, where this is no longer a problem,” he said. “The solution begins with the professionals reading this document.”

Ms Stevens said while the guide represented a positive step forward, no single resource, service or treatment could address the challenges of youth suicide prevention alone.

“Organisations, policy makers, clinicians and consumers must work together to improve our whole system of care,” she said. “This new document is the next step towards an evidence-informed system that listens to children and families and works collectively to prevent harm and support recovery.”