System modelling and simulation could help change the face of youth mental health in our region

Wentworth Healthcare, the provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network, is proud to be part of the Right Care, First Time, Where You Live research program that is focussed on improving the mental health of young people across Australia.

The program, delivered by the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre and funded by the BHP Foundation, involves eight PHNs and their local communities nationally. It connects researchers and communities together to co-develop a local system modelling and simulation tool that can help guide investments in sustained, coordinated and digitally enhanced youth mental healthcare.

In the Nepean Blue Mountains region, which encompasses the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith local government areas, demand for youth mental health services is high. General practice data for the region indicates that 14% of patients between 4-17 years have a mental health disorder. Recent statistics also reveal that hospitalisations and deaths due to self-harm exceed the NSW state average, highlighting the urgent need for improved engagement with existing mental health services and the implementation of additional services or interventions.  

Systems modelling and simulation is an evidence-based and data-led way to test strategies and forecast the impact those strategies are likely to deliver on a local population, before investing significant time and financial resources. It can help increase understanding of the combination, scale and timing of investments and strategies needed, to deliver the most benefit to a local population.

Wentworth Healthcare CEO, Lizz Reay, said that significant difficulties and hurdles exist for young people seeking mental healthcare in the region and as part of the co-design of the Nepean Blue Mountains tool, three workshops were conducted to gather input and insights from key stakeholders about mental healthcare across the region. The last of these workshops was held on Friday 8 November in Penrith.

“Young people living in our region face both geographical and social isolation, and additional stressors such as recurring natural disasters. They have been affected more than most over the past five years, with multiple disasters including drought, bushfires and five flood events on top of the pandemic,” she said.  

“Government funding is limited, so investing in the right mental health interventions, at the right time, to ensure we have the most impact for our young people, is vitally important,” said Ms Reay.   

“Traditionally system modelling and simulation tools are something scientists and researchers have used. Now thanks to the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, we as a PHN and our stakeholders in the community, will have free access to our own localised tool, lending even more credibility to our advocacy efforts in the youth mental health space,” she said.

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