Exploring trauma symptomatology complexity among children and adolescents in care attending a tertiary level specialist mental health service

Several studies have explored trauma symptomatology in children and young people (C/YP) in foster and kinship care. The current study explored the mental health difficulties for a cohort of C/YP in care with complex needs in Queensland, Australia at commencement of treatment at a tertiary level specialist mental health service, with a focus on gender and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background. The short form of the Assessment Checklist measures were completed by carers for 100 children aged 5–10 years and 96 adolescents aged 11–17 years. The findings reinforced that the service was providing treatment to the intended cohort of C/YP in care with severe and/or complex mental health and/or social and emotional wellbeing concerns. As a measure of total mental health problems for children and adolescents, over 80% of the sample were in the clinical range. Female children displayed greater over-familiarity, affection-seeking and attention-seeking behaviours, and absence of personal boundaries in social relationships compared to males. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adolescents were more emotionally withdrawn and displayed greater avoidant and non-reciprocal social behaviours than non-Indigenous adolescents. Although not a representative sample of Queensland C/YP in care, the data identified the complexity of social and emotional wellbeing challenges faced by some of those in care. The study highlighted the importance of using assessment tools tailored to assess challenges that are often experienced by children and young people in care. Further, given the complexity, severity and breadth of symptom manifestation, the data highlighted a need for comprehensive individual, dyadic, and systematic therapeutic approaches.