South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health (SESIH) mental health staff will join
local education and community service experts today at a two-day training
program at St George TAFE.
The NSW School-Link Training Program, developed by the Institute of Psychiatry
in 2000, aims to improve mental health outcomes for children and adolescents.
Phase 5 of the Program: The assessment and management of anxiety disorders in
children and young people is a key component of the state-wide NSW School-Link
initiative.
School-Link Coordinator, Central and Northern Hospital Networks, Jordan Thomas,
said the School-Link Training is an initiative in NSW which aims to train mental
health and education counselling personnel together.
"This initiative is an ongoing partnership between NSW Health and the NSW
Department of Education and Training and is aimed at improving mental health
outcomes for children, adolescents and their families," Ms Thomas said.
"We previously addressed adolescent depression, self-harm, cultural and
sexuality issues in adolescents’ mental health and problematic substance use.
"However, in Phase 5 of the training the focus has shifted slightly to include
children and adolescents as anxiety is often first experienced in earlier
years," she said.
Ms Thomas said more than half of those children who experience anxiety will
develop an anxiety disorder or depression in their adolescence if not treated.
"Anxiety is a mental disorder that can be treated successfully if action begins
early in the course of the illness. The condition includes excessive fears
and worries, and can have significant impact on the development of children.
"Treatment may involve psychological therapy and often includes supportive roles
for the family and school," she said.
Those attending the program will join over 2,000 professionals including mental
health education workers, school and TAFE councillors, Juvenile Justice
councillors and Community Service staff who have already completed the training
across the state.
Media enquiries: Maxine Brennan, Health Communication Officer,
9113 2601 or 0413 028 776
