New family-facing resource on medically unexplained symptoms in young people
Published on February 9, 2026
Around 30 per cent of children and young people seen by health practitioners experience physical symptoms without a clear medical cause or explanation. These are known as medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).
The Campus Mental Health Strategy has developed a guide to help parents and carers understand and support their young person experiencing MUS.
The guide was made by health professionals – including RCH psychiatrist Dr Andrew Court, researchers, and young people and carers with lived experience of MUS.
It provides a clear picture of what MUS are and how they present. It also helps parents and carers navigate diagnosis, treatment, and recovery with their young person.
The guide covers four parts:
- Understanding MUS
- The mind-body connection and stress
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Treatment and recovery
These MUS resources are a first of their kind for young people and are a big step forward in demystifying the topic. We know that MUS are common and are very distressing, but with the right care and support, young people can fully recover and get back to the things they love.