Topic 4: Legislation on adolescent mental health The children’s rights should be implemented at different levels. Legislation should be developed on the right of youngsters to co-decide (and thus also to refuse care). The human rights approach should be stressed in all policy documents and interventions. Legislation concerning restraint procedures should state that restraining must be kept to a minimum. It is important work out legislation on maximum waiting times in primary and specialised mental health care. In Finland, such legislation exists. It forces primary care services to filter out adolescents with severe problems and to transfer them to specialised care more quickly. As a result, adolescents with mild problems are also treated more quickly in primary care. An adverse effect of such legislation is that adolescents get an intake within the prescribed waiting time but after that need to wait for a long time before a second therapy session takes place. It’s important to address this problem. Adolescents should always have the right to contact a professional outside their parents’ knowledge. Parents or other family members are crucial partners within the network of the adolescent. Therefore, a general rule must be that professionals inform and involve parents as much as possible although there should be room for exception. Within the treatment, one of the first aims should be to talk with the adolescent about informing and/or involving the parents. Parents have the right to receive information and may need additional support as well. Yet, for every specific case a good balance should be found between respecting the privacy of adolescents on the one hand and involving parents in the treatment of their child on the other hand.
Topic 4: Legislation on adolescent mental health The children’s rights should be implemented at different levels. Legislation should be developed on the right of youngsters to co-decide (and thus also to refuse care). The human rights approach should be stressed in all policy documents and interventions. Legislation concerning restraint procedures should state that restraining must be kept to a minimum. It is important work out legislation on maximum waiting times in primary and specialised mental health care. In Finland, such legislation exists. It forces primary care services to filter out adolescents with severe problems and to transfer them to specialised care more quickly. As a result, adolescents with mild problems are also treated more quickly in primary care. An adverse effect of such legislation is that adolescents get an intake within the prescribed waiting time but after that need to wait for a long time before a second therapy session takes place. It’s important to address this problem. Adolescents should always have the right to contact a professional outside their parents’ knowledge. Parents or other family members are crucial partners within the network of the adolescent. Therefore, a general rule must be that professionals inform and involve parents as much as possible although there should be room for exception. Within the treatment, one of the first aims should be to talk with the adolescent about informing and/or involving the parents. Parents have the right to receive information and may need additional support as well. Yet, for every specific case a good balance should be found between respecting the privacy of adolescents on the one hand and involving parents in the treatment of their child on the other hand.