Experts in forensic adolescent psychiatry will be meeting with staff from Northern Territory mental health services for a day and a half workshop which will discuss best practice care for young people with mental health and substance abuse problems in the justice system.

More than 50 doctors and other health professionals have already registered for the sessions which will be held at Royal Darwin Hospital and nearby on 11th and 12 February.

‘The high response to this session shows the demand from local clinicians for expertise which combines both forensic and child and adolescent mental health management’ said RANZCP NT Branch Chair Dr Carolyn Little

‘It’s a very important area of care where vulnerable people can fall into the cracks between traditional services.

‘Continuing medical education is important for all doctors and health professionals working in this complex area. This session will provide an excellent basis for new doctors working with this challenging population group , and will be a ‘refresher’ for experienced doctors and psychiatrists familiar with the issues encountered in this area of adolescent mental health care’.

Sydney based forensic psychiatrists Dr John Kasinathan and Dr Yolisha Singh will discuss neurodevelopmental disorders in young offenders, the management of violent offenders and risk assessment. The session has been organised by the NT Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) following their meeting with local members in late 2015.

‘We have more than 5000 psychiatrist members who work across Australia and New Zealand’ said RANZCP President Professor Malcolm Hopwood ‘but only a very small number who work in the Northern Territory. So we have been keen to open this session up to a broader group of mental health professionals who work with psychiatrists in multidisciplinary teams’

‘Working in mental health care in the Northern Territory offers a wide range of challenges and is tremendously rewarding’ said Dr Little. ‘I’ve been here for 12 years and the variety of work experiences and opportunities to creatively develop and expand mental health care services continues to grow each year’

WHAT: Adolescent forensic psychiatry workshop

WHEN: Friday 12 February 2016

WHERE: Royal Darwin Hospital

TIME: 9am – 5pm

For information: Joanne Phillips, RANZCP Manager Membership Engagement, (0419) 371 854