What is the issue for NSW?
Psychosocial assessment is as important as physical assessment to support youth health and wellbeing. The face-to-face HEEADSSS psychosocial interview identifies strengths and risks relevant to Home, Education and Employment, Eating and Exercise, Activities, Drugs and Alcohol, Sexuality and Gender, Suicide, Depression and Self-harm, and Safety. A HEEADSSS assessment is recommended for every young person who attends a health service.
However, administration is varied, particularly in Emergency Departments. Emergency Departments are often the first point of contact with the health system for youth, especially for those with mental health concerns or vulnerable backgrounds. Assessing youth with psychosocial concerns is a significant challenge for Emergency Departments because staff may have restricted time and limited private spaces to discuss confidential issues. This can result in missed opportunities for young people to receive early intervention and referrals to services they need.
What does the research aim to do and how?
The research aims to implement a HEEADSSS assessment that can be completed on a phone or digital device. This is called the eHEEADSSS and it is expected to be a quicker and better way to collect relevant information from young patients. The eHEEADSSS has already been implemented at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and the aim is to expand the implementation to other hospitals. The eHEEADSSS will be implemented at Wollongong Hospital, John Hunter Hospital, and Blacktown Hospital Emergency Departments, and patients and staff will be asked for feedback. The aim is to determine if it is a valuable tool to be used in all Emergency Departments in New South Wales.