The Impact of Treatment as Usual on School and Vocational Attendance Problems in a Child and Youth Mental Health Service

BackgroundThis study investigated changes in school and vocational attendance problems (SVAP) among young people receiving treatment as usual (TAU) at Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) in Australia. Although CYMHS primarily addresses severe psychiatric disorders, SVAP frequently co-occurs in this population, impacting overall wellbeing.MethodA random sample of 210 patients who completed treatment in the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was selected. SVAP was assessed using the Health of the Nations Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA), a routinely collected measure of symptoms and functioning, with ratings recorded at Assessment, 91-day Review, and Discharge.ResultsAt Assessment, 48.6% of patients presented with SVAP. This reduced to 44.8% at Review and significantly dropped to 24.3% by Discharge (<i>p</i> < 0.001). While no significant change was observed from Assessment to Review, a substantial reduction in SVAP was noted from both Assessment to Discharge and Review to Discharge (<i>p</i> < 0.001).ConclusionThese findings suggest that CYMHS TAU, though not specifically focused on attendance issues, can positively impact SVAP in young people with complex psychiatric needs.