Toward an integrated service system for refugee and asylum seeker mental health

This presentation describes a systems level project that promotes an integrated model of mental health care for refugees and asylum seekers in Melbourne’s west. The initial hypothesis for the project was that improved... [ view full abstract ]

This presentation describes a systems level project that promotes an integrated model of mental health care for refugees and asylum seekers in Melbourne’s west. The initial hypothesis for the project was that improved integration of all systems responsible for the mental health care of refugees and asylum seekers would improve service quality and care outcomes for these clients.

Since late 2013 this project has brought together providers of public mental health services in Melbourne’s metropolitan west to collaborate with settlement services, specialist refugee health agencies and other providers to address systems delivery challenges associated with the need for more highly integrated care. Our initial focus has been on systems providing trauma informed mental health care for adult refugees and asylum seekers, and on mental health and wellbeing pathways. More recently the project has sought to build the capacity of the associated workforces. Increasingly we are looking to incorporate mental health promotion and community participation, with a focus on younger people.

Our primary target group has been the staff involved in the process of designing, and delivering trauma related mental health services. Our early interventions addressed the low levels of cross-sector knowledge and the fragmentation in the service system, and asked why, in this important endeavour an integrated service model was not evident and how to improve the system for the clients.

This presentation reports on our progress towards an integrated service model, and the benefits to the staff, organisations and clients when effective partnerships are created. Through our project we have demonstrated that client access and care options can be improved; that staff knowledge, skill levels and confidence increased and referral pathways are expedited more effectively. This work is on-going.