00:00 This mother's first time back at a hospital classroom that turned her daughter's mental
00:06 health around.
00:07 "Some of her engagement in hospital schools has actually helped her to decide that she
00:12 wants to be a school teacher."
00:14 Annie's daughter took part in a program launched last year by the Women's and Children's Hospital
00:19 School.
00:20 It offers individualised support to engage young mental health patients with their school
00:25 work.
00:26 This includes helping them complete assignments in the ward if needed, as well as giving schools
00:30 and parents resources to back the young person's studies, even after they've left hospital.
00:35 "Probably would still be a little bit lost in how to support her and probably a little
00:41 bit lost in how to support that transition to a new school."
00:45 The hospital says other countries are eyeing off the model.
00:48 "A number of schools are changing their approach to how they address young people who have
00:53 mental health impacts and also changing the way that they communicate with us."
00:58 A national report last year found almost 40 per cent of young people had experienced a
01:03 mental health disorder in the 12 months prior to being surveyed, an unprecedented jump of
01:09 50 per cent in a decade and a half.
01:12 Advocates are saying Australia's mental health system needs urgent reform, with children
01:18 and adolescents most at risk.
01:20 "We know that at every level that our services are under pressure, so that's why we've put
01:25 more staff and more resources into our schools so that you've got the early intervention
01:29 help for kids."
01:31 The Women's and Children's Hospital is reviewing its youth mental health services after a government
01:36 report investigated patient concerns late last year.
01:40 But for now, its classroom has raised this mother's hopes.
01:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]
