Clinical
Staging
Why it matters
Young people often come to mental health services with lots of different things going on in their lives. Some might be noticing early signs that something isn’t quite right while others may have been managing challenges for a while.
Because no two people are the same, everyone’s needs look different, which means the level of support will be different for each person.
Clinical staging helps identify where you’re at right now, so your care can match your current needs and guide decisions as things change over time.
How it works
Think of clinical staging like a roadmap. Just as doctors treat other illnesses based on their severity, clinical staging helps mental health practitioners and young people understand their current challenges in a bigger picture.
For example, cancer treatments get more intense as the illness gets more severe. But mental health services often use a “one size fits all” approach, which doesn’t always work well, especially for severe cases.
At this stage, a young person isn’t experiencing any mental health challenges, but there are some things that could make it more likely in the future. This is an opportunity to put strategies in place to prevent future problems.
At risk stage
At this stage, a young person is likely to be experiencing a few mental health symptoms, such as low mood or sleep problems that may be affecting how they are doing in things like school or work. This is an opportunity to intervene early.
Early signs of mental illness
At this stage, a young person is experiencing clear symptoms of mental illness such as depression or anxiety that are interfering with their day-to-day activities. This is an opportunity to address what is happening right now and identify ways to prevent things from getting worse.
Clear signs of a mental illness are evident
At this stage, a young person is experiencing mental health problems that won’t let up or keep coming back. This can make everyday activities like school, work, and social relationships really difficult. It’s very important for a young person to get appropriate specialist care now to help them get back on track.
For some young people, the severity of mental illness worsens
The Benefits
Clinical staging can:
- Identify important warning signs that a mental health condition might get worse.
- Help predict how things might go and guide the best treatments.
- Ensure early-stage issues are treated with less intense, but effective, methods, while saving more intense treatments for later stages.
The Goals
- Manage Current Challenges: Address the distress and difficulties you’re facing right now.
- Prevent Progression: Help stop the condition from getting worse over time.
Why it's important
Why early and appropriate care matters
Getting the right care early means fewer side effects and better outcomes. It also helps reduce the financial and time costs for you and your family, such as missing school or work, travel costs, and the time spent with healthcare professionals.
What helps
Looking at all aspects of your life and health.
Keeping track of your progress regularly.
Leveraging apps and digital tools to support your journey.
Understanding how your condition progresses to provide the best care.
By understanding and using clinical staging, it can help you to get the care that may be best for you right now.
Things to reflect on
How do you think clinical staging could help you?
What are you experiencing right now that might influence the care you need?
Have your needs changed over time?
Explore the other components of the model...
Personalised care is all about putting you at the centre of your mental health care.
Shared Decision Making
It is important that you have a voice in decisions about your care. Learn more by reading about Shared Decision Making.
Multi-Dimensional Assessment
Many things matter to your mental health. Learn more by reading about Multi-Dimensional Assessment.
Outcome Monitoring
Tracking your progress can help you identify patterns in your mental health. Learn more by reading about Outcome Monitoring.
Follow these steps with your health professionals to create your path to personalised care – no matter where you are in your journey.