For health professionals

• Paying Attention To Self (PATS) is a peer support program for young people aged 12 - 18 years who have a parent with a mental illness.

• PATS is an early intervention program aiming to prevent the development of mental health difficulties in young people who have been identified as being at increased risk. 

• A key aspect of the program is the utilisation of peer leaders (young people who have a parent with a mental illness) as co leaders in the program.

• PATS meets on a weekly basis for eight weeks each school term. Groups are facilitated by a worker and a peer leader. 

• The PATS reference group has a strong advocacy role, aiming to improve the situation for young people and families affected by parental mental illness.  

• Once the 8 week group is finished, there are further opportunities to be involved with PATS if the young people are interested. There are regular social outings each school term and there are many leadership opportunities

• The PATS Statewide Project involved five sites based at the Centre for Adolescent Health, Parkville; Inner South Community Health Service; Shire of Yarra Ranges Youth Services; Wimmera Uniting Care, Horsham; and Goulburn Valley Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Shepparton.  Groups have also been run in Geelong and in Gippsland in Sale and Traralgon. (See Contact Us. for the current programs running post Statewide project).

• The sites covered  rural, inner city and suburban regions.

• An extensive process and outcome evaluation was conducted from 2002 to 2005 which explored the key components necessary for establishing programs in different community settings, and identifying the impact of the program on young people and their families.

• Funding for the project was been provided by the Department of Human Services - Mental Health Branch, VicHealth and beyondblue.

  

 PATS is a mental health promotion and illness prevention program. PATS provides young people who have parents with mental health issues the opportunity to share their experiences and be supported by other young people in a similar situation to their own. The objective is to increase the young people's knowledge of mental health and illness, to improve their help seeking behaviour and coping strategies, and to improve their sense of connection to their peers, family and community. The group has a psycho-educational and peer support focus. Topics covered in the group include understanding mental illness, communication and conflict resolution skills, assertiveness, problem solving, dealing with stigma and stereotypes associated with mental illness and coping strategies.

Go to the Contact Us page for details of the different sites.

After the initial contact the Centre For Adolescent Health can organise training for your organisation or we can link you into existing training.  The training is also for young people who are willing to be peer leaders.  Once you have attended the training you will be provided with a password which will enable you to access the "PATS program guide".  This guide will provide with with a background to the PATS program as well as providing you with information on Planning and Implementing an 8 week program.  This guide will step you through all components of PATS from advertising your group, peer leaderships,referral processes to session ideas for the 8 weeks. 

 The PATS program guide is now on line.  To have access to the Program Guide you must first attend a 2-day training session with the Centre for Adolescent Health.  Once you have attended the training you will be provided with a password which will enable you to access the "PATS program guide".  This guide will provide with with a background to the PATS program as well as providing you with information on Planning and Implementing an 8 week program.  This guide will step you through all components of PATS from advertising your group, peer leaderships,referral processes to session ideas for the 8 weeks. 

For further information regarding training please contact General Enquiries at contact us

To access the guide you will need Acrobat Reader

PATS program guide (PDF 540KB)

There is a new leaflet in the package developed as part of the UK-based "Partners in Care" campaign that health professionals may find useful.

"A checklist for professionals coming into contact with the children of parents with mental health problems" was developed in consultation with young carers to help the professional give children and young people the information they need to come to terms with a family member's mental health problem.

The leaflet can be downloaded at:  Partners in Care campaign materials