The Impacts of a Clown Doctor Program on an Adolescent Psychiatric Unit: A Mixed Methods Investigation

Inpatient psychiatric care is often required to manage adolescents with severe mental health problems. As the ward can be a confronting and challenging environment, this study explored the influence of clown doctors on adolescents. Seventy-seven adolescents (13–18 years) from Monash Health Stepping Stones Adolescent Unit and 11 clown doctors from The Humour Foundation participated in the study. Bespoke surveys were developed by the research team to collect quantitative self-report data and qualitative responses. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis suggested that adolescents experienced high levels of fun as well as positive mood and feelings during a clown doctor session. Clown doctor programs show promise within an inpatient unit with opportunities for further development being identified. With considerations of the findings, future clown doctor training could include tailoring sessions to the developmental needs of adolescents and developing strategies on how to interact with adolescents who have a mental health disorder.