Logan Hospital is leading the way in mental health care with their hybrid approach to youth services attracting state-wide attention from other Hospital and Health Services (HHS).

Acute Response Teams (ARTs) have been helping young consumers navigate the mental health landscape from the emergency departments (ED) at Logan and Redland Hospitals since the pandemic and now they’re sharing their learnings with others across Queensland.

Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) Nursing director Ryan Zeppa-Cohen said permanent ART funding was now available under Queensland Health’s Better Together Initiative and other HHS’ were keen to adapt a similar model of care for their consumers.

“Our Logan ART was approached by other HHS’s like West Moreton, Darling Downs and Metro North who heard about our success and wanted advice on implementing something similar,” Ryan said.

“We also attended West Moreton’s planning day to share our experience and assist with designing an ART model that will fit their service.” 

Ryan said the Logan and Redland’s ART’s were based off the long-running service of the same name at Children’s Health Queensland HHS but tailored to serve the needs of the Logan and Bayside community.

“We have expanded our services to include support beyond that provided at the time of presentation to ED,” he said.

“We understand that it can be hard for our consumers to remember everything discussed with them during their visit to ED so we now offer short-term follow up and support after their visit, which is something the other teams can’t do.

“A post ED follow up call includes a welfare check, assistance linking up with appropriate support services and help understanding the language around the mental health landscape.

“Essentially we want to hold their hand through the weeks following their first contact with our hospitals.”