Submission on the draft National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

The National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) is developing the first National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy as part of the Australian Government's Long-Term National Health Plan. The Strategy, which is expected to be published in the coming months, will provide a framework to guide critical investment to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children from birth to 12 years of age.

The RACP response expresses support for the comprehensive Strategy and suggests a range of enhancements, including:

• the need to place greater emphasis on the prenatal period and early years of a child’s life, including prenatal screening for depression, anxiety and wellbeing; a universal sustained postnatal home visiting program and the provision of a universally accessible, high‐quality early learning and childcare system
• the inclusion of specific priority actions which focus on preventing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and youth suicide
• consideration of the barriers to uptake of proposed parenting programs, such as self and community stigma
• the need to ensure the Strategy is fully resourced and specific timeframes for implementation outlined
• support for the suggested model of integrated child and family care but consideration for the location of services.

As outlined in the Paediatric and Child Health Division (PCHD) position statement on The Role of Paediatricians in the Provision of Mental Health Services to Children and Young People, paediatricians play an important and often under-recognised role in caring for children and young people with mental health problems. The role of the paediatrician is particularly important in the face of limited specialised mental health services, especially in rural and remote Australia.

The RACP holds that it is imperative that paediatric knowledge and expertise is incorporated into child mental health planning at every level, and is committed to engaging with medical Colleges, professional groups, community stakeholders, including individuals and their families, and government, to develop effective and innovative models of care for children and young people with mental health problems.

Read RACP submission