Synopsis

The current Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System is providing a focus of attention on mental health service provision. Whilst recognising the shortcomings of current services for people with mental disorders, the Commission will be able to offer deep and wide-ranging recommendations for improvements, and influence profoundly the design and delivery of mental health services into the future. Provision of mental health services for children and adolescents are a key part of their work.

This Grand Round, during Mental Health Week, will take the perspective of children and their families on issues of access and experiences of mental health care, and describe improvements and initiatives taking place in Mental Health at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Speakers

Dr Ric Haslam is the Director of Mental Health at RCH.  Ric has worked in public mental health for children and adolescents for 20 years.

Prof Harriet Hiscock is Director of the RCH Health Services Research Unit and holds positions in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Agnes Girdwood is the Carer Consultant for RCH Mental Health.

Prof David Coghill is Financial Markets Foundation Chair in Developmental Mental Health in the Departments of Paediatrics and Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, RCH.