Managing youth mental health at a 10-day live-in mass-gathering event

Scout jamborees provide an opportunity for younger youth to attend a ten-day live-in mass gathering event. However, young people may experience distress at being away from home or have existing mental health problems. Responsibility for managing the well-being of scouts and troop leaders at Jamboree falls to welfare leaders. This study explores the expectations, preparedness, and experiences of welfare leaders in providing mental health support. Three focus groups were conducted with welfare leaders prior to the Australian Scout Jamboree in 2019. Participants reflected on managing issues arising from the experience of being at Jamboree, as well as pre-existing conditions. Most participants had completed mental health first aid training, and education on child protection and mandatory reporting, as well as specific training for the Jamboree. Despite preparation, participants noted that troop leaders may not always have the skills to recognise emerging mental health problems. Secondly, parents may not complete, or may provide an incomplete, medical history. Thirdly, educational expectations and experiences may differ between jurisdictions due to the governance structure of Scouts Australia. The participants recommended the extension of mental health first aid training for all troop leaders.