JOKER
Helping young people through online coaching
in cooperation with experts in primary care in the region
Summary
For the mental health of children and adolescents:
Summary
The psychological burden on young people has increased significantly throughout Germany, which causes a high demand for psychological counseling, psychiatric diagnosis and psychotherapeutic treatment. At the same time, long waiting lists, fear of stigmatization or the limited availability of specialists on site repeatedly prevent those affected from receiving immediate help. The JOKER project aims to create an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to close the existing gaps in care. Cross-sector networking will promote cooperation between medical care centers, psychiatric clinics and pediatric practices so that access to diagnostics and advice for families with children and adolescents suffering from mental health problems can be simplified, especially in rural areas. N = 100 patients in pediatric practices are to receive consultations from the psychotherapeutic team of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Tübingen. During videoconferences and digital diagnostics, a professional assessment is carried out and assistance is provided with regard to further therapeutic steps. Education on psychiatric disorders for participating practices helps to expand specialist knowledge and increase competence in dealing with mental health problems. This feasibility study aims to evaluate the described processes among participating families, practices and practitioners. JOKER will initially be implemented in Baden-Württemberg, but if the results are positive, it could well be extended to other federal states in the future.
Background
The emotional stress of children and young people has increased significantly in recent years. The JOKER Schömberg project was created as part of the expansion and improvement of psychotherapeutic services. The cross-sectoral approach is innovative and interdisciplinary, which is achieved by networking doctors with psychotherapeutic experts from the University Hospital of Tübingen.
The project aims to help reduce the gap in care for children and young people with mental health problems and to identify illnesses at an early stage to prevent them from becoming chronic.
For practitioners
Patient introduces themselves, case discussion, possibly further diagnostics/counseling. Support from case manager throughout the process.
As part of the project, the medical staff will gain and expand both substantive and practical experience in the assessment and counseling of children and adolescents with mental disorders and their families through case discussions.
If children, adolescents or families who are suspected of having psychosocial problems present to the doctor's surgery, a basic psychological diagnosis is carried out in the surgery. The screening is evaluated using the GDPR-compliant online diagnostic system from the Hogrefe publishing house and is also evaluated online.
For interested parties
Our services are designed to support children and young people with mental health problems and their families in the district of Calw. Mental illnesses are often only recognized at a late stage, which can lead to the symptoms becoming chronic.
In the JOKER project, medical care centers and doctors' practices work together with experts from the Tübingen Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department. Online diagnostics and in-depth anamnesis are used to identify abnormalities and provide treatment recommendations. However, the service does not include outpatient psychotherapy.
If you are interested, please speak to the doctor treating you. They can then contact our case manager.
How does the project work?
The video clearly illustrates the collaboration between the pediatric practices, case management and the university hospital. Find out more about the context and history of JOKER as well as the benefits of the project for the practices and families.
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What are the advantages of Joker?
- Support in recognizing psychological abnormalities in your patients
- Professional and prompt diagnostics by experts from the University Hospital of Tübingen
- Advice on further treatment in digital case discussions
- Greater flexibility for you thanks to our online format
- Greater confidence in dealing with mentally ill children and adolescents
- Accredited online training courses
Are you interested in finding out more about the JOKER project? Please get in touch using the contact form on our website.
Collegial advice
After the presentation in the doctor's practice and the screening carried out, the results are passed on to the licensed psychotherapeutic colleagues.
As part of a regular case conference, a collegial consultation takes place in which the problem is summarized and further recommendations are discussed.
These case conferences take place online. If necessary, patients are referred to other services (e.g. clinics, outpatient psychotherapists).
The project is being carried out in cooperation with the municipality of Schömberg and MEDNOS e. G.
Financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration from state funds approved by the Baden-Württemberg state parliament.
Training opportunities
Further training opportunities
In the course of the project, regular training opportunities will be offered on key topics in child and adolescent psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care. The topics on which the focus will be placed are
- Child protection
- Clarification of acute aspects that endanger others and themselves
- Behavioral problems in children and adolescents
- Low-threshold support services
- Principles of psychotherapy to convey ideas on what further care could look like in reality
The program takes the form of accredited face-to-face seminars, online lectures and existing e-learning courses for which continuing education points are awarded by the State Medical Association.
The aim is to provide in-depth and wide-ranging basic knowledge of developmental psychology and clinical practice as well as content on everyday practice.
In addition, "good practice experiences" in the support and care of children and adolescents with mental health problems are made available.