There has been a 70% increase in suicide incidents amongst young people in out-of-home care since 2019 according to recent Victorian data. Population studies in NSW also show they are five times more likely to be hospitalised due to their mental health. These young people often have complex symptomatology that does not fit neatly into mental health criteria yet experience high levels of distress that can’t be contained within out of home care.

Young people in out-of-home care are placed there under the state’s guardianship due to abuse or neglect. Of 45,000 children in OOHC in Australia, 8% are in residential care homes. Young people in residential care have experienced significant trauma and often present with self-harm, suicidality, and a range of mental health difficulties.

The response of residential care providers is to refer these highly distressed young people to headspace, the emergency room and CAMHS, only to be told they do not fit the criteria for access. We ask the question – is there a case for the state, as their guardian, to consider them a compelling priority group for mental health access?

This presentation will highlight learnings from work in the intersection between out-of-home care and mental health. Participants will:
• Explore through case studies the experience of young people in out-of-home care who seek mental health help
• Learn from examples of successful cross-sector collaboration
• Discuss possible policy solutions that can address gaps for this cohort.

The presentation proposes a model to better help this highly vulnerable cohort to whom the state owes a responsibility as corporate parent.

It will conclude with a call to action for the mental health and child protection systems to stand together and design a better response for these children and young people.