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Enhanced primary mental healthcare for Indigenous Australians: service implementation strategies and perspectives of providers

Overview of attention for article published in Global Health Research and Policy, June 2018
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Title
Enhanced primary mental healthcare for Indigenous Australians: service implementation strategies and perspectives of providers
Published in
Global Health Research and Policy, June 2018
DOI 10.1186/s41256-018-0071-1
Pubmed ID
Authors

Lennart Reifels, Angela Nicholas, Justine Fletcher, Bridget Bassilios, Kylie King, Shaun Ewen, Jane Pirkis

Abstract

Improving access to culturally appropriate mental healthcare has been recognised as a key strategy to address the often greater burden of mental health issues experienced by Indigenous populations. We present data from the evaluation of a national attempt at improving access to culturally appropriate mental healthcare for Indigenous Australians through a mainstream primary mental healthcare program, the Access to Allied Psychological Services program, whilst specifically focusing on the implementation strategies and perspectives of service providers. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 31 service providers (primary care agency staff, referrers, and mental health professionals) that were analysed thematically and descriptively. Agency-level implementation strategies to enhance service access and cultural appropriateness included: the conduct of local service needs assessments; Indigenous stakeholder consultation and partnership development; establishment of clinical governance frameworks; workforce recruitment, clinical/cultural training and supervision; stakeholder and referrer education; and service co-location at Indigenous health organisations. Dedicated provider-level strategies to ensure the cultural appropriateness of services were primarily aimed at the context and process of delivery (involving, flexible referral pathways, suitable locations, adaptation of client engagement and service feedback processes) and, to a lesser extent, the nature and content of interventions (provision of culturally adapted therapy). This study offers insights into key factors underpinning the successful national service implementation approach. Study findings highlight that concerted national attempts to enhance mainstream primary mental healthcare for Indigenous people are critically dependent on effective local agency- and provider-level strategies to optimise the integration, adaptation and broader utility of these services within local Indigenous community and healthcare service contexts. Despite the explicit provider focus, this study was limited by a lack of Indigenous stakeholder perspectives. Key study findings are of direct relevance to inform the future implementation and delivery of culturally appropriate primary mental healthcare programs for Indigenous populations in Australia and internationally.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 65 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 65 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Unspecified 6 9%
Student > Master 6 9%
Researcher 5 8%
Student > Ph. D. Student 5 8%
Student > Bachelor 3 5%
Other 12 18%
Unknown 28 43%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Psychology 8 12%
Unspecified 6 9%
Nursing and Health Professions 6 9%
Social Sciences 5 8%
Medicine and Dentistry 3 5%
Other 7 11%
Unknown 30 46%