Paediatric ED mental health prospective observational study

Prospective Observational study of child and adolescent mental health presentations to Australian Emergency Departments.

There is a growing number of children and young adults presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) with mental health concerns, making the EDs an increasingly initial point of contact for this group. Despite this, not enough is currently known about the patterns, triggers, associated healthcare costs and outcomes for these vulnerable patients to inform targeted, evidence-informed preventions and interventions. In this study we will collect health information from all children and young people with mental health concerns presenting to ED, and also collect information from their parents/carers at the initial ED visit when the study commences and then at 3, 6 and 12 months.  Information to understand the health and social outcomes of young people following a mental health-related ED presentation, and information of their healthcare utilisation and associated costs will also be collected. This study will also aim to investigate how a young person’s genetics can influence mental health issues.

There are three parts to this research – Questionnaire, Data Linkage and DNA sample collection (The Data Linkage and DNA sample parts will require informed consent for participation and Questionnaire will be implied consent).

Study design

Multi-site Prospective observational study

Chief Investigator

Professor Simon Craig

Time frame

2023 – 2025

Funding

Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) – Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission fund (Australia)

Site locations

  • Monash Health, Melbourne – lead site (CPI Simon Craig)
  • Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne – (PI Ric Haslam and Franz Babl)
  • Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth – (PI Meredith Borland)
  • Gold Coast University Hospital – (PI Shane George)
  • Queensland Children’s Hospital – (PI Natalie Philips)
  • The Children’s Hospital at Westmead – (PI Shefali Jani)
  • Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide – (PI Amit Kochar)

Sample

2000 young people <18 years, over 12 month recruitment period.

Contact

Email: simon.craig@monash.edu (CPI) or Marietta.john2@monash.edu (Research coordinator).