The economic value of informal mental health caring in Australia (2017)

Informal carers play a significant role in providing ongoing support and assistance to people with mental illness. The aims of this project were to: provide a profile of mental health carers and the types of care provided; estimate the replacement cost of informal mental health care; estimate bed-based service replacement costs; review current government spending on mental health carers and unmet support needs.

The project found that an estimated 240,000 Australians care for an adult with mental illness. Mental health carers provide large amounts of unpaid support, often on a fluctuating basis, and largely focused on emotional support. It would cost $13.2 billion to replace informal mental health care with formal support services, and currently $1.2 billion (conservatively) is spent on mental health carers. Not all mental health carers are accessing support services or feel their needs are being addressed.

Consumer transactions: Equitable support models for individuals with decision-making impairments (2017)

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the challenges that individuals with mental and intellectual impairments encounter when they engage in consumer transactions. The research team set out to gauge the viability of Supported Decision-Making models for consumers. A specific focus was on transactions occurring in the finance, telecommunications, insurance, and utilities industries. The primary objective of the study was to establish which support models for individuals with mental and intellectual impairments may assist them to engage in consumer transactions.

Findings from this pilot-study indicate that in developing the support model the following issues should be considered: who is best placed to provide the support required; the role of informal supports (e.g. carers, family); ensuring that the support model is highly accessible to ‘vulnerable’, and sometimes isolated, consumers; potentially limiting the scope of the model and focusing on a specific area of industry given the complexity of each sector; considering the delicate balance between protection of consumers and empowerment.

Consumer transactions: Equitable support models for individuals with decision-making impairments (PDF 185 KB)

Out Doors optimal health program: promoting wellbeing through adventures in nature (2016) 

Out Doors is a community managed mental health organisation that promotes mental health and wellbeing through adventure activities in the natural environment. In early 2016 Out Doors collaborated with Frameworks for Health (FFH), and St. Vincent’s Hospital (Melbourne) to develop the Out Doors Optimal Health Program (OOHP). This collaboration and pilot program seeks to link positive experiences in nature with the Optimal Health Program (OHP), a self-management wellbeing program which aims to promote hope, growth, meaningful connections, and partnerships. This paper focuses on the preliminary findings relating to the short-term outcomes participants’ experienced.

Out Doors optimal health program report

Community mental health care after self-harm: A retrospective cohort study (2016)

Presentation to hospital after self-harm is an opportunity to treat underlying mental health problems. This study aimed to describe the pattern of mental health contacts following hospital admission focusing on those with and without recent contact with community mental health services (connected and unconnected patients).

A total of 42,353 individuals were admitted to hospital for self-harm. In 41% of admissions, the patient had contact with a community mental health service after discharge. Patients connected with community mental health services had 5.33 times higher odds of follow-up care than unconnected patients. Other factors, such as increasing age and treatment as a psychiatric inpatient, were associated with lower odds of follow-up community care.

Community mental health care after self-harm study - report 

Safety and autonomy in the Australian mental health services sector (2016)

A report providing recommendations for mental health service reform to achieve a culture of safety, autonomy and recovery.

The report identifies best practice for a risk management strategy that respects the service user’s autonomy as comprising of: A safe environment where the service user does not feel threatened; An open flow of communication between all parties; A recovery plan that empowers the service user; Workers who feel adequately trained and prepared; Workers who are aware and informed on the service user’s situation and requirements; A wider support system for the service user;  An ongoing review mechanism for all recovery and treatment plans; Appropriate support, debrief and re-training services for affected workers. 

Safety and autonomy in the Australian mental health services sector

Mind at The Mental Health Service (TheMHS) Conference (2015)

An award-winning presentation of an innovative resource at the 2015 TheMHS Conference by a lived experience member of the Mind Research and Evaluation Committee.

Mind at The Mental Health Service Conference presentation

Supported decision making (SDM) project (2014-2018)

Mind Australia was a partner on an ARC Linkage Project (2014 – 2018) which investigated the experiences of people in the mental health system and carers in relation to supported decision making. 

The project produced a suite of online and downloadable resources on supported decision making. These can be used by people with experience of mental health problems, carers, mental health practitioners, and mental health service providers. 

Resources include two (2) online resources based on people’s stories on film and audio of living with severe mental health challenges (including carers’ experiences) located on the Healthtalk Australia website:

The Trauma and Homelessness Initiative (THI) (2014)

An initiative investigating the relationship between trauma and homelessness through a literature review, qualitative and quantitative data collection with service users, and staff focus groups. 

The findings from the THI present a picture of a cyclical interrelationship between trauma exposure, long-term homelessness, mental health difficulties, and social disadvantage. The following points speak to how trauma is central to this cyclical and perpetuating interrelationship:

  1. Trauma drives homelessness: Traumatic events are often a precursor to becoming homeless.
  2. Homelessness drives trauma exposure: Being homeless is a risk for experiencing further trauma.
  3. Trauma drives social difficulties: Trauma, especially that which is caused by the primary caregiver, or other forms of interpersonal trauma impacts on an individual’s sense of safety and connection with other people, and therefore impacts on the ability to develop and maintain social relationships.
  4. Trauma drives mental health problems: Exposure to traumatic events in both childhood and adulthood are associated with mental health problems