JACARANDA PLACE ADOLESCENT UNIT: PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES OF A VOLUNTARY INPATIENT EXTENDED STAY ADOLESCENT UNIT

Abstract

Background: Jacaranda Place (JP) provides a unique experience in youth mental health (MH) service evaluation in Queensland. Unlike many other MH services, JP had had the opportunity to develop an evaluation framework/ report on evaluation before the service was operational. The data gathered from the evaluation pilot trial are the first of their kind for an adolescent health service for those with severe and complex mental illness. Objectives: The primary objective of this presentation is to better understand, and describe, the key sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the youth, carer and families accessing JP services and to ascertain key risk and protective factors that are predictive of service access and use. Secondary objectives include: identifying key risk and protective factors that are predictive of recovery and MH treatment outcomes; and determining whether clients with complex needs respond differentially to treatments offered by JP. Methods: A pre-post and follow-up design, utilising data from adolescents who are referred to JP but who do not progress to admission, and those adolescents (and their carers) who attend the JP upon entry to, exit from, and at 6 months post exit. Data collected will include Information from the Consumer Integrated Mental Health Application and information collected via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) questionnaires from the JP treating team, young people and their carers. Findings: Results are being analysed. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence indicates that thoughtful co-design and implementation of an evaluation framework allows for effective assessment of outcomes relating to programmes, including capturing personal recovery progress.