The ACP International Conference provides an unmatched opportunity for our members to learn from experts and leaders in paramedicine. ACPIC 2021 was delivered as a hybrid conference (online and face to face in the Sunshine Coast, QLD and Hobart, TAS) in November 2021.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst children and adolescents worldwide, and rates of paediatric suicide have remained consistent since the 1990s. Eighty per cent of young decedents who died by suicide were reported to have visited a healthcare facility in the year prior to their death. The emergency care setting, in particular ambulance services, have reported a surge in psychiatric presentations, signalling that the emergency care setting is often the first point of contact to those suffering. Yet, paramedics are underequipped with paediatric mental health screening and assessment tools. This presentation will provide an insight into existing validated tools utilised across the emergency care setting, which could potentially be recommended for Australian paramedic practice.

Biography: Kristina Maximous

Kristina is a dual registered paramedic in Australia and England with extensive experience in both clinical practice and paramedic education. Kristina’s experience of increasingly attending paediatric mental health cases, accompanied by the lack of age- appropriate screening tools, led her to conducting research to explore existing paediatric mental health screening and assessment tools utilised across the wider emergency care setting. She hopes that one day her research will contribute in assisting ambulance services across Australia to adopt paediatric mental health screening and assessment tools, and to further advocate for mental health reforms to be inclusive of paramedic practice.

Session moderator: Lauren Clothier