Adolescents in acute mental distress on inpatient pediatric settings : some reflections from a pediatric liaison practitioner

Foster, C

Abstract

Topic: Exploration of the impact of adolescents in acute mental distress admitted onto in-patient pediatric settings: on the staff group caring for them and the adolescent’s consequent experience of the service provided, from a descriptive and psychodynamic theoretical point of view.

Purpose: To examine the impact this client group can have on the staff, environment and multi-disciplinary systems caring for them, with the aim of identifying practical strategies for providing effective child and adolescent mental health service consultation and liaison for this complex and high risk group.

Sources: This paper draws on psychoanalytic theories of adolescent development, trauma, organizational dynamics and reflections on personal experiences in the field of pediatric liaison. The challenges of providing effective support in this context are illustrated with clinical examples from the authors own practice.

Conclusions: The importance of attending to the very primitive anxieties and subsequent defense mechanisms aroused in staff having to care this client group within this context is highlighted. A case is made for the provision of mental health consultation and support that provides emotional containment for the young people and staff and that incorporates understanding of the organizational issues that can contribute to the complexity of this work.

Citation

Foster, C. (2009). Adolescents in acute mental distress on inpatient pediatric settings : some reflections from a pediatric liaison practitioner. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 22(1), 16-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2008.00165.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 3, 2009
• Deposit Date: Apr 28, 2014
• Journal: Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1073-6077
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 16-22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2008.00165.x
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2008.00165.x