Mental health problems in infancy, childhood and youth can present in a wide variety of ways including emotional, behavioural, and social difficulties, poor school attendance, mood, anxiety, eating problems, self-harm and suicidal behaviours, and disturbances in reality testing and thinking.
Our Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health Service (ICYMHS) is a specialist service providing comprehensive and caring mental health and wellbeing services and support for infants, children, adolescents, and young people up to 24 years of age, as well as their families and support networks, who are presenting with major or complex mental health challenges across our catchment area.
Our services encompass a range of individually tailored specialist mental health community and acute inpatient-based assessment and treatment services.
In partnership, with children, young people, and families, we work to address identified needs and aim to provide culturally safe and LGBTIQ+ friendly care that supports recovery.
Choice, partnership and participation by young people and their families/carers are central to how we work.
Who we see:
Infants, children, adolescents and young people, 0 -25 years of age, living in following Local Government Areas:
- Whitehorse
- Manningham
- Maroondah
- Knox
- Yarra Ranges
- Monash (parts of)
Further details around Eastern Health ICYMHS’ regions can be found here
In addition to our direct clinical work, we support organisations and professionals working with infants, children, adolescents, and families in the Eastern region through:
- Providing information and advice on mental health issues and resources
- Training and education activities
- Working closely with our hospital and services and community-based partners to improve how we work together and strengthen the community’s capacity to support young people and families.