Child Mental Health Inpatient Unit

The Child Mental Health Inpatient Unit provides specialist mental health assessment and treatment within an inpatient setting for young people aged from birth to 13 years old who are experiencing severe and/or complex mental health difficulties.  There are facilities available for parents to stay with younger children during their admission. The unit also has one family accommodation suite for planned family based admissions.

Children and young people who are admitted to our unit have complex mental health issues that require intensive inpatient treatment.  They might be experiencing social, emotional and relationship difficulties or other symptoms that impact on their functioning, such as for example, feeling suicidal.

During an admission, our staff work closely with children and young people and their families/carers to develop individualised goals to assist the young person with their journey to recovery.

Referrals to the inpatient units for acute or planned inpatient admissions are made through a community Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Emergency Department or private psychiatrist.

Who can access this service?

The Child Mental Health Inpatient Unit provides specialist mental health care for children and young people who:

• are aged between 0-13 years
• are under the care of a community Child and Youth Mental Health Service
• are under the care of a private psychiatrist
• have presented to an emergency department for an acute mental health assessment requiring admission.

Catchment area

The Child Mental Health Inpatient Unit provides services to clients statewide and interstate upon request.

Do I need a referral?

You will need a formal referral to access this service.

How do I get a referral?

Referrals to the inpatient units for acute or planned inpatient admissions are made by:

• Community Child and Youth Mental Health Services
• Emergency departments
• Private psychiatrists.

Other referral information

If there you have concerns about your child or teenager’s mental health you are encouraged to speak with your GP or other helping professional.

If they become acutely unwell, please take them to the nearest emergency department for a mental health assessment. In an emergency phone 000 for an ambulance.

Information for health professionals

The Child Mental Health Inpatient Unit has a designated suite for families experiencing severe and complex systemic issues that are contributing to the significant mental health concerns experienced by their child or children. This differs from parent/child admissions, where we may briefly admit a parent or carer to facilitate assessment and treatment in the initial part of an admission. Family based admissions generally follow the exploration and attempted implementation of community based family interventions and are structured one to two-week admissions that assist community clinicians to progress comprehensive assessment, formulation and treatment planning specific to the family’s needs.

Our team

Directors

Operational Director – Judi Krause

Medical Director – Dr Stephen Stathis M.B.B.S., FRANZCP, Cert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, DTM&H, MSc

Hospital psychiatrists

Medical Director – Dr Jillian Spencer MBBS (Hons), BmedSci, FRANZCP, Cert Forensic Psychiatry, Cert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Dr Kara Forde MB BCh BAO FRANZCP,Cert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Dr Jannie Geertsema MBCHB, AMC, FRANZCP, Cert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Dr Brendan McGuire MBBS, FRANZCP
Dr Susan Wilson MBBS (Hons), FRANZCP, Cert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Advanced Certificate Mental Health Sciences PIMH (University of Melbourne)
Dr John Varghese M.B.B.S ,FRANZCP,RANZP Cert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Dr Maria Hanger MBBS, DPM, FRANZCP