Pilot study of client outcomes from exercise physiology in a youth mental health service.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the utilisation and experience of an exercise physiology programme, known as Bod Squad at a youth mental health service. Individual sessions were offered in an outpatient setting, while both group and individual sessions occurred in an inpatient unit. This pilot study used a mixed methodology to collect data from young people who attended Bod Squad.

Individual placement and support, supported education in young people with mental illness: an exploratory feasibility study.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of adapting individual placement and support (IPS) to education for young people presenting to a tertiary mental health service who wished to re-engage with or be supported in their education.

Methods: The study was an uncontrolled trial. Twenty young people with severe mental illness were recruited and worked with an educational specialist providing adapted IPS for education (IPSed).

Family peer support work in an early intervention youth mental health service.

This paper describes the evolution of a family peer support programme in an early intervention service in Melbourne, Australia. In response to policy directions from Federal and State governments calling for carer participation in public mental health services, and feedback from the families of young people at Orygen Youth Health, the 'Families Helping Families' project was developed. The positive acceptance by families of this innovative programme also warrants further exploration.

Group programmes in early intervention services.

Aim: Group interventions can be a developmentally appropriate treatment option for young people with mental illness; however, there is a paucity of research into these programmes. This study had three aims: (i) to document and compare both clinicians' and clients' reasons for referral to the Orygen Youth Health Recovery Group Program (RGP); (ii) to describe demographic characteristics of patients referred to the RGP; and (iii) to delineate and differentiate characteristics of clients who do and do not engage with the RGP's activities.

Methods: Referral and assessment data from 212 clients referred to the RGP between July 2001 and November 2003 were collated and analysed.