About Us
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Promotion Officer (MHPO) Positions have been funded in all Mental Health Regions in Victoria, as a suicide prevention strategy.
History of Mental Health Promotion Officers (MHPO)
The Mental Health Branch, Department of Human Services in 1997 created the Mental Health Promotion Officer Program. There is one MHPO position for each Mental Health region in the state of Victoria. The MHPOs are attached to the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in these regions.
The MHPO positions have been funded as part of a redevelopment of CAMHS. The redevelopment was prompted by the release of the document outlining the Framework for Mental Health Service Delivery to Children and Adolescents in 1995. This document identified a need for services to be accessible, as well as, requiring a prevention and early intervention focus, particularly for young people in high risk groups. These groups include children of parents with a mental illness, children and young people who are homeless, statutory clients, victims of abuse and those with problematic substance abuse. Studies have highlighted the overlaps between these groups, and the high incidence of depression and suicidality within them.
For recent findings on suicide deaths in Australia contact the Australian Bureau of Statisics.
At the same time there has been government and community concern in recent years about the rising suicide rate for young people and recent surveys of young people have indicated a level of depression in the youth community more broadly.
The MHPO positions have been created in response to these concerns.
Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) explained
The state of Victoria is divided into health regions. There is a CAMHS located within each of these regions.
When we think of mental illness, we often associate it with adults. In fact, children and adolescents also suffer mental health problems. One in five people suffer some form of mental illness in their lifetime, and for up to one in ten people, this will occur during childhood or adolescents.
Many young people experiencing mental health problems will receive assistance from family, friends, teachers or other adults, and for some this will be sufficient. Others will not receive any or enough help, and require the services of a specialist child and adolescent mental health service.
Mental Health Promotion Officers
Suicidal behaviour is a broad public health issue, requiring a response from many sectors, and involving a range of contributors. An intersectorial approach, involving the Department of Human Services, Directorate of School Education, non-government agencies, key community groups and individuals is essential in tackling this problem systemically.
The MHPOs will support and bring together workers in local communities who work with young people to:
- Increase the accessibility and appropriateness of mental health services to those young people whose behaviour or emotional states places them at risk of suicide.
- Increase the skills and confidence of those who work with vulnerable young people in the assessment, intervention and management of behaviour which places young people at risk of suicide.
- Increase the capacity of those involved with at risk young people to address the system factors constraining an appropriate response to the target groupšs mental health issues.
- Increase the capacity of the network of psychiatric and youth related agencies to respond to the needs of the target group in an ongoing way.
- Identify high risk groups and individuals and bring them to attention of the Directors of Clinical Services of all regional Adult Psychiatric Services, CAMHS and young peoplešs mental health services.
- Liaise with statewide expert individuals, groups and organisations.
- Establish and maintain local, community-based, youth suicide prevention networks.
- Facilitate development and dissemination of regional protocols for service access.
- Facilitate the development of a public information program for teachers, primary care workers and families about depression and available treatment services.
- Aims to increase workers and communities knowledge and understanding of mental health issues for young people. This occurs through development of framework, innovative projects, education and consultation.