❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the funding of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), questioning its focus on extreme cases and advocating for early intervention. The answer outlines current funding allocations for community services and initiatives aimed at prevention and early intervention.
AnsweredQoN 5441Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), and ask -
(1) Why is CAMHS funded to provide treatment to only the most extreme end high risk cases?
(2) In view of the substantial evidence in support of the benefits of early intervention, why isn't CAMHS funded to provide an early intervention and prevention mental health service to build resilience and reduce the number of adolescents and adults experiencing mental health problems in our community?
(1) Why is CAMHS funded to provide treatment to only the most extreme end high risk cases?
(2) In view of the substantial evidence in support of the benefits of early intervention, why isn't CAMHS funded to provide an early intervention and prevention mental health service to build resilience and reduce the number of adolescents and adults experiencing mental health problems in our community?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
44 days
1) Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a specialist stream operating for children. CAMHS services are purchased from the Department of Health to deliver specialist services to those clients with the most severe and complex mental disorders and their families.
These are children and young people who have:
· a diagnosable condition based on ICD-10;
· experienced a substantial impairment in functioning due to the mental disorder for the past year on a continuous or intermittent basis; or
· exhibited severe symptoms within the past 30 days coupled with substantial impairment in functioning at the current time.
Without treatment these clients may experience significant deterioration including suicide, self harm, aggressive anti-social episodes and psychotic behaviour.
(2) The Mental Health Commission (MHC) acknowledges that prevention and early intervention in infancy, early childhood, adolescence and youth have been shown to have a positive impact on mental health outcomes and in its Strategic Policy document
Mental Health 2020; Making it personal and everybody's business
identifies youth, infants and children as a specific priority population.
To complement the services provided by CAMHS and to address the need for early intervention and prevention strategies the MHC currently provides over $4.2 million in recurrent funding to the community managed service sector to provide perinatal and mental health services to children and young people.
The MHC allocated over $750,000 in non-recurrent funding in 2011-2012 to support early intervention for infants, children and young people.
The MHC has also allocated $365,000 in non-recurrent funding for the following three initiatives that are targeted to youth, as well as other age groups:
o Act Belong Commit mental health promotion campaign;
o WA Music Song of the Year, a mental health promotion and stigma reduction initiative; and
o Huntington's WA to provide support to individuals and families affected by Huntington's disease.
In 2011-12 the MHC allocated the Department of Health $6.5 million additional investment to expand community clinical services to improve access to mental health services for children and young people.
The MHC facilitates a monthly Infant and Mental Health Planning Group with representatives from community and clinical government services, and non government services to guide short and long-term planning.
In addition, the MHC is negotiating with the Commonwealth for the provision of:
o Commonwealth funding for two Youth Early Psychosis Services (YEPS) to be matched with State Government funding.
o Mental Health Assertive Community Intervention initiative to expand community intervention services to children and their families who are experiencing a mental health crisis to prevent unnecessary hospital admission and emergency department presentations.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
These are children and young people who have:
· a diagnosable condition based on ICD-10;
· experienced a substantial impairment in functioning due to the mental disorder for the past year on a continuous or intermittent basis; or
· exhibited severe symptoms within the past 30 days coupled with substantial impairment in functioning at the current time.
Without treatment these clients may experience significant deterioration including suicide, self harm, aggressive anti-social episodes and psychotic behaviour.
(2) The Mental Health Commission (MHC) acknowledges that prevention and early intervention in infancy, early childhood, adolescence and youth have been shown to have a positive impact on mental health outcomes and in its Strategic Policy document
Mental Health 2020; Making it personal and everybody's business
identifies youth, infants and children as a specific priority population.
To complement the services provided by CAMHS and to address the need for early intervention and prevention strategies the MHC currently provides over $4.2 million in recurrent funding to the community managed service sector to provide perinatal and mental health services to children and young people.
The MHC allocated over $750,000 in non-recurrent funding in 2011-2012 to support early intervention for infants, children and young people.
The MHC has also allocated $365,000 in non-recurrent funding for the following three initiatives that are targeted to youth, as well as other age groups:
o Act Belong Commit mental health promotion campaign;
o WA Music Song of the Year, a mental health promotion and stigma reduction initiative; and
o Huntington's WA to provide support to individuals and families affected by Huntington's disease.
In 2011-12 the MHC allocated the Department of Health $6.5 million additional investment to expand community clinical services to improve access to mental health services for children and young people.
The MHC facilitates a monthly Infant and Mental Health Planning Group with representatives from community and clinical government services, and non government services to guide short and long-term planning.
In addition, the MHC is negotiating with the Commonwealth for the provision of:
o Commonwealth funding for two Youth Early Psychosis Services (YEPS) to be matched with State Government funding.
o Mental Health Assertive Community Intervention initiative to expand community intervention services to children and their families who are experiencing a mental health crisis to prevent unnecessary hospital admission and emergency department presentations.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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