The parts that make the whole Bowral Mental Health Service

Prior to 2001 the Bowral Mental Health Service was one team that looked after the Southern Highlands community - virtually from cradle to grave. Staff of the service did not have any particular training or expertise in dealing with mental illness in youth or aged persons.Since 2001 things have changed in the way in which the Bowral service operates to provide a more specialist service to youth and older people. Since 2002 the Adolescent Mental Health team has operated as a specialist unit of the Bowral Mental Health Service. Operating from refurbished premises on the campus of Bowral Hospital, the Centre of Youth (CoY) is open Monday to Friday each week except for public holidays.Staffing at the Centre consists of nursing staff, and psychologists. There is also a weekly Clinic conducted by a Visiting Adolescent Psychiatrist, who is able to assess, review and prescribe for young people with mental illness. The staff at CoY also maintain a care coordination role with young people who require a more intensive involvement with the service. Part of the care coordination of a young person may mean working with parents and siblings in order to better manage some of the family dynamics. It may also involve the young person's school counsellor in order to ensure that there is a significant support for them. Staff of CoY also may act as advocates for the young people. This could mean engaging in a case conference with families, GPs, teachers and others who have involvement with the young person.Since 2007, older persons with a mental illness have also had access to a more specialist clinician. A well qualified nurse has been working with the Bowral Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) to act as a consultant to other health services located in the Bowral Community Health Centre. The role of this nurse, with access to Psycho-geriatricians and Aged Care Psychiatry, blends wonderfully well with that of the Bowral Adult Mental Health team. Aged persons with a mental illness can be assured of more appropriate referrals and treatment for their illness.The next post will explain the parts that constitute the Bowral Adult Mental Health Service.