by Monash University

Overlapping proportions of mental health and suicidal self-harm complexity factors for children with and without an identified history of out-of-home-care. Credit: Child Abuse & Neglect (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107086

New research has found that being in the out-of-home care system increases the likelihood of having multiple ambulance attendances for alcohol, drug, mental health or self-harm among Victorian children.

As part of the study, researchers from Turning Point and Monash University examined the patient records of ambulance attendances for 27,565 Victorian children between January 2017 and June 2023.

The study found children with an identified history of out-of-home care had significantly more complex needs and were much more likely to experience substance-related harm, violence, self-harm, suicide ideation and attempts, developmental or intellectual disabilities, and mental health conditions.

The data was sourced from the National Ambulance Surveillance System (NASS) and included a total of 49,035 ambulance attendances. The research is published in Child Abuse & Neglect.

Dr. Baldwin, study lead researcher and research fellow at the National Addiction and Mental Health Surveillance Unit at Turning Point and Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, says, "An identified history of out-of-home care among the patients we studied increased the odds of having multiple ambulance attendances by more than two-and-a-half times.

"We also found that children in this cohort had a much higher rate of co-occurring mental health and self-harm behaviors, with over a quarter having an identified history of diagnosed mental health, self-injury, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt.

"These findings suggest that children in out-of-home care may be stuck in a crisis-driven revolving health care door, where existing supports are not sufficient in addressing their complex needs.

"Providing early, individualized, trauma-informed care that addresses the underlying causes, rather than only the presenting symptoms, is essential to ensure the needs of this vulnerable population are being met. Tailored support that is preventative, rather than reactionary, is critical to reducing repeated emergency responses for these at-risk children."

More information: Ryan Baldwin et al, Differences in ambulance attendances between children with and without an identified history of out-of-home-care, Child Abuse & Neglect (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107086

Journal information: Child Abuse & Neglect 

Provided by Monash University