Abstract presentations



1

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience (Peer) Worker Guide

Sara Walsh
WA Country Health Service

The MHC engaged the services of the ILEC to develop the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience (Peer) Worker Guide (Guide), a supporting resource to the recently released Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Framework. This presentation will speak to both the process that was undertaken and the outcome of the project.

There are clear similarities between the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces and the broader First Nations Peoples workforce. Relationships, connection, sharing power and blurring boundaries are features of these workforces but do not fit comfortably in hierarchically structured workplaces.

A cultural element of emotional labour could be present for First Nations workers who are embedded in and accountable to their community and who may often need to assist family and community members as part of cultural obligation. This means they may not often have the opportunity to switch off. This example invites us all to reflect on where the emotional labour sits in our domain and what organisational strategies need to be employed to minimise its impact. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience (Peer) Worker Guide looks deeper into the nuances of this specific workforce and outlines strategies and supports that are required to build a thriving workforce. 

The Guide will provide advice and strategies to organisations looking to employ and support Aboriginal and Torres Staite Islander Lived Experience (Peer) Workers. Having Aboriginal and Torres Staite Islander Lived Experience (Peer) embedded in mainstream services provides cultural security within the service provision.

The process undertaken for engagement is a best practice example of co-design with relevant stakeholders.

This presentation will serve as a platform to note only promote the Guide itself but also to highlight the process undertaken to support future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific workings as the work was undertaken using true co-design and co-production practices

2

Establishing a Lived Experience Program in Mental Health & Community Alcohol and Drugs Services (Geraldton)

Penny Thomas & Libby McLaughlan
WA Country Health Service

In 2022 the Midwest Mental Health and Community Drug and Alcohol Service (MH&CADS) established a Lived Experience Program. The Midwest is unique in having peer workers working across Mental Health & CADS and this is also the first WACHS CADS team to have a Lived Experience Program. This presentation will outline the process of recruitment, training and culture change within the teams.

It will explore:

  • Partnerships with COMWHA and others
  • Recruitment & selection
  • Training
  • Culture change with staff
  • Learnings – the good, the bad and the ugly!
  • Future challenges

Highlights will include personal stories from participants in the Lived Experience program as well as feedback from team members about the implementation of the program.

3

Mindfulness and Meditation - A Wellbeing Initiative

Jen Smith & Arianna Patrick
WA Country Health Service

WACHS Mental Health initiated mindfulness and meditation sessions as an innovative staff wellbeing initiative. Evaluation evidenced reported benefit from a significant number of our workforce therefore moving into 2023 we are continuing with providing mindfulness and meditation sessions with all staff welcome.

Mindfulness and Meditation are evidence-based practices to build resilience, working in

mental health it is important to look after our mental health too. These sessions compliment some of the already great wellbeing programs that are being run across health and bring added benefits of staying connected across our regions.

We would like to share with the audience why we do these sessions, the benefits for all staff and consumers, carers, what we do, what they involve and how they are facilitated and received. We will share some anecdotal evidence and evaluation data before facilitating a 10-minute mindfulness and meditation session. 

Our aim is to share wellbeing practices, for people to take away for themselves, start a conversation with others, come along to our WACHS wide sessions building the capability, competence and confidence for all. 

4

The Sexuality in Dementia Project - Phase 1 - Human Centred Design Thinking

Bronwyn Cutler
WA Country Health Service

The World Health Organisation states that all people have a right to positive sexual expression in environments that affirm and promote sexual health and wellbeing. This includes older people and those that reside in residential aged care facilities (RACFs).

Research has shown that staff in RACFs have difficulty in dealing with the sexual behaviour of older people with dementia and that this is to do with not receiving support and training in the workplace and therefore making decisions based on their own attitudes, values and experiences.

The aim of The Sexuality in Dementia (SID) Project is to support the sexual health and wellbeing of people with dementia who reside in WACHS RACFs by improving the competence and confidence of staff dealing with sexual behaviour of people with dementia in their care. Management of older people with dementia who reside in RACFs and demonstrate sexualised behaviours is a complex and sensitive clinical issue, and there is a dearth of resources and training available to staff to assist them to work constructively with older people in his cohort.

Phase 1 of The SID Project utilised human centred design thinking (HCDT) workshops to engage with staff members at the frontline of the problem.  HCDT is about building a deep understanding of the experience of the people you are designing a solution for, generating many ideas for the identified challenge, building one or more prototypes to test with the people you are designing for and eventually putting your co-designed, innovative new solution out into the world. This presentation steps through this initial phase of The SID Project.

5

Rural Psychiatry Training WA

Steven Blefari, Matthew Davidson, Zoe Retallick & David Townsend
WA Country Health Service

Background: There is a critical need for high quality psychiatric care in rural WA, but over 90% of WA psychiatrists are in Perth. There are 13.5 psychiatrists per 100,000 people in WA, but only 4.3 per 100,000 outside Perth. Most existing WA trainees complete all training in Perth and don’t complete any rural terms.

Objectives: To increase rural training & retention, the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) applied to RANZCP to accredit our catchment as a new 2.5 million km2 rural training zone and established Rural Psychiatry Training WA (RPTWA) to run a comprehensive end-to-end training program for aspiring psychiatrists to live, train and practice in rural WA.

Methods: RPTWA is the first ever dedicated rural psychiatry training zone. We are working with communities, government, and stakeholders to support each trainee & their family to become established & thrive in their rural communities. We are also working to expand training to smaller and remote posts while ensuring trainees have equitable access to training and education, secure pathways for support and access to appropriate supervision for remote practice.

Findings: Following provisional accreditation, we received strong interest from prospective and current trainees, with 23 trainees who joined the program in February 2023, many of whom have come from rural backgrounds.

Conclusions: The creation of RPTWA has been the culmination of years of work and lobbying by passionate rural psychiatrists and is thanks to close collaboration between WACHS, the WA Branch of RANZCP, the WA Branch Training Committee as well as multiple WA Government & community stakeholders.

6

What is the future of mental health care? It looks like Safewards

Sara Bernard & Arianna Patrick
WA Country Health Service

Aim of presentation –

Ignite a passion for Safewards as the future of mental health care.

Content of presentation -

Safewards is a model of care which aims to reduce conflict and containment events on mental health inpatient units – based on 10 interventions developed through research in the United Kingdom by Professor of Psychiatric Nursing, Len Bowers. He concluded that common conflict points within mental health inpatient units such as aggression, substance use, absconding, deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts contribute to harmful, and potentially traumatising, containment events.

In 2020/21 the South West Inpatient Unit saw the highest number of code blacks called within a 5 year period – coinciding with workers compensation claims tripling. The Safewards model commenced implementation in October 2021 in response to this unsettling period.

Within 8 months there was a 23% reduction in containment events and Workers Compensation claims were the lowest they had been in 5 years.

Safewards objectives are simple, yet effective: aim to establish the therapeutic relationship, explore alternative psychotherapeutic methods, reduce the use of restrictive practice, reduce trauma events and improve safety in mental health Units. It’s that simple.

This is Safewards. This is the future of mental health care.

7

Mullewa Empowering Aboriginal Voices

Charmaine Green
WA Centre for Rural Health

Dr Charmaine Green will present a session on the collaborative approaches taken by the Western Australian Centre for Rural (WACRH) in partnership with the Mullewa community to contribute to improving the social and emotional wellbeing of the Mullewa community. Mullewa is located 99 kilometres east-northeast of Geraldton and 450 kilometres north of Perth. As at the 2021 Australian Census the Mullewa population declined from 447 to 356 of which 52.4% were male and 47.6% female. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population was recorded as 90 (25.3%).    This session will focus on the   the Mullewa Empowering Aboriginal Voices (MEAV) project and associated program of community activities. MEAV is a three-year program of empowerment and connectedness in the Mullewa community to improve Aboriginal health and wellbeing. MAEV programs aims are  to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s relationships and belonging to the Mullewa Community for stronger health and wellbeing; identify and address the community needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Mullewa; Identify and develop a strong cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders and members who can continue to encourage collective participation in health promotion and community programs and activities in Mullewa.  We will offer insight into program outcomes and progress including responses taken locally to tackling community violence; developing a Mullewa Healing Program resulting in the Mullewa Healing Forum; Mullewa Women’s Centre activities; male and female healing yarning circles on country and documenting the Aboriginal voices of Mullewa through recorded interviews and lastly the establishment of a new WACRH Research Centre in Mullewa. Yamaji woman Dr Charmaine Green is a Research Fellow at the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health in Geraldton Western Australia.  Dr Green leads the WACRH MEAV project as well as the Midwest Aboriginal Men's Empowerment (MAME) project.

8

Embracing the Power of Community: Working across the sectors to improve mental health

Renee Knapp
Think Effective Consultancy

For too long, education, health, law enforcement, community groups and businesses have worked in isolation to address mental health issues.  Yet each of these key stakeholders can play a role of prevention, intervention or support in communities.

I help communities work across the sectors to achieve improved mental health outcomes by facilitating the development of mental health action teams and community wellbeing plans, so that real change can happen and we can start saving lives.

During this presentation I will:

  • Outline the key benefits to developing a Community/Cross-Sector approach to mental health
  • Identify key areas to address when adopting this approach and provide a framework for successful change
  • I will then explore some essential steps/strategies involved in setting up your own community mental health approach in your local area including
    • Qualities of a mentally healthy community (that are important to your setting)
    • What is currently happening in the 3 tiers of mental health in your local area
    • Awareness and education
    • Prevention
    • Early intervention and Available support services
    • Protective and risk factors that exist in your local community

I will provide you with a results framework and access to an implementation checklist to provide you with an overview and a starting point that will leave you with a clear pathway and vision to get you started on the journey to mental health improvement in your community

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9

Presence and effects of language disorders in child and adolescent mental health

Antonios Chasouris
WA Country Health Service

A limited scope study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of speech and language problems in children and adolescents attending clinics in Western Australia Country Health Service Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for the Midwest region (CAMHS).  A screening assessment was devised with the aim of detecting difficulties with receptive and expressive language, voice, articulation, and fluency, by use of modified standardized tests and subjective ratings. All patients had been under the care of a key worker in CAMHS and were studied during a period of 52 months. Results showed that moderate or severe difficulties in at least one aspect of speech and language was present in over two-thirds of the 72 children and adolescents assessed. The most common problems occurred in the areas of expressive language and verbal communication. Problems with voice, articulation and fluency were less common. The limitations on the information obtained due to the nature of the population considered and the assessment procedure, and the implications of the findings for the management of patients are discussed.

10

Cultural Information Gathering Tool (MR23) - Story of Aboriginal People being shared throughout mental health

Josephine Gray
WA Country Health Service

The Cultural Information Gathering Tool (MR23) originated from Queensland then adapted across WACHS Aboriginal Mental Health. This unique tool is the first to be introduced for WACHS Mental Health Program to gather cultural relevant information shared by the consumer and families. This tool informs Clinical assessments and are utilised in Multi-disciplinary reviews regarding the "Aboriginal Person" and Cultural considerations, and cultural needs are integrated in Care Management and recommended Cultural interventions

Using a naturally YARNING process of sharing stories and cultural connections, within family structures and experiences of trauma, and roles and responsibilities.

This tool helps build rapport and engagement with the Aboriginal person and would belong in the client clinical file and would travel person if transferred from the rural remote areas to Metropolitan healthcare regions.

WACHS Aboriginal Mental Health Workers are offered training in the tool and all helped review and co-design a tool more relevant to the rural and remote local cultural interactions and considerations from traditional to contemporary worldviews. The Cultural Information Gathering Tool (MR23) will help inform Clinicians of Cultural ways to care and cultural background knowledge of the person's situation for consideration, for better health outcomes for Aboriginal people's social and emotional wellbeing.

11

Mental Health Co-Response (MHCR) Moving Forward Technology, Research and Innovation

Jacqueline Spinks & Prabeesh Prasannan Pillai
Community Mental Health

People experiencing a mental health crisis and or presenting with behavioural disturbance remain an on-going issue for police officers, who may have little or no experience of mental illness. This is clearly reflected in the state mental health and criminal justice statistics. The presentation of challenging behaviours related to people experiencing mental illness in rural and remote parts of WA communities, results in police involvement as a first point of contact.  Sometimes involvement of police, may result in long delays for the person experiencing the mental health crisis and their families in accessing a culturally secure mental health services close to home and in a timely manner.

The MHCR in the South West commenced service delivery in July 2022 within the township of Bunbury, with the aim to improve outcomes for persons experiencing mental health crisis (including suicide/self-harm, co-morbid mental health, issues related to alcohol and other drugs).  In May 2023 the model expanded using technology to commence a virtual service. This facilitates police in smaller towns within the region, to access telehealth support from an Authorised Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP). The AMHP can provide relevant information to assist police decision making when dealing with a person experiencing mental illness. Using the technology of telehealth this interaction may result in the person staying at home, being referred to the local community mental health team, local GP, or if required being transported to the nearest ED to have a mental health assessment via the Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service.

This presentation will demonstrate how the use of technology, research (feasibility study) and innovation has resulted in improved quality mental health care for people living in very remote areas of the region where MHCR does not provide a face to face service.

12

Mental Health Co-Response (MHCR): Leading collaborative approaches in rural and remote mental health care

Sharon Southall
Mental Health & Community Alcohol & Drug Service

People experiencing a mental health crisis and or presenting with behavioural disturbance remain an on-going issue for police officers, who may have little or no experience of mental illness. This is clearly reflected in the state mental health and criminal justice statistics for rural and remote parts of WA. The presentation of challenging behaviours related to people experiencing mental illness in the community, results in police involvement as a first point of contact.  This sometimes confronting involvement of police, may result in long delays for the person experiencing the mental health crisis in accessing a culturally secure mental health service.

The MHCR in the Midwest commenced service delivery in September 2021, with the aim to improve outcomes for persons experiencing mental health crisis (including suicide/self-harm, co-morbid mental health, issues related to alcohol and other drugs).  The service includes an Authorised Mental Health Practitioner, working alongside a Police officer providing a true co-response, to assist Police decision making when undertaking a welfare check and where mental illness is identified as a possible factor.  Aboriginal Mental Health Workers provide a post crisis response to ensure cultural security to MHCR.

This presentation will exemplify how joint leadership between WACHS Mental Health and WA Police , led to the development of collaborative and innovative approaches to improve access for people to specialist mental health assessments, treatment and support in a culturally secure and timely manner while reducing the number of ED presentations. Through the evaluation of qualitative and quantitative data it will also demonstrate how this resulted in benefits for consumers, carers, police and mental health services

13

Aboriginal Cultural Issues Masquerading as Mental Illness

Ben Sketcher & Shayne Taylor
WA Country Health Service

A series of cases will be presented, describing instances where Aboriginal consumers receiving care for apparent mental health issues have had their issues identified by the collaborative efforts of clinicians and Aboriginal Mental Health Workers as being primarily cultural or spiritual. Their problems, with patient and family consent, have been addressed culturally by elders and healers through family networks, resulting in substantial or complete resolution of their presenting problems.

14

My journey navigating the complex web of Mental Health Care in WA

Donna Reid
Carer Lived Experience

In my experience it is evident that a medical facility is needed for complex needs. Multiple goals can be achieved through a planned admission process in conjunction with sedation and anaesthesia. Taking inspiration from my sons planned admission to FSH for day procedures and from philanthropic doctors in NSW who in their own time run a clinic for adults with complex needs.

My presentation will cover:

  1. Navigating the complex web of Mental Health and Complex Needs through my lived experiences.
  2. Encouraging positive connections between individuals with complex needs and healthcare professionals.
  3. Advance planning with a collaborative approach.

An integrated medical clinic with multidisciplinary teams and planned admissions for patients with complex and mental health needs is unquestionably a key part of ensuring optimal healthcare.

15

A local perinatal mental health campaign: People, partnerships and empowerment

Isabel Ross & Elizabeth Lockyer
WA Country Health Service

Perinatal mental health issues affect 1 in 5 women, and 1 in 10 men.  Despite being so common, discussions with stakeholders and community members in the Midwest identified very little awareness and support for perinatal wellbeing locally.

In response, the Mental Health Promotion Coordinators at WACHS-Midwest collaborated with Health Communication Resources, Geraldton Local Drug Action Group, and Geraldton Suicide Prevention Action Group to develop a perinatal mental health campaign specific to the Midwest.

Recognising that change comes from the community, the campaign engaged new mothers and fathers, and professionals, from Geraldton and Carnarvon to share their experiences, advice, and help-seeking recommendations.  These were used to create a suite of social media videos, community service announcements and posters for distribution around the Midwest.

The response from the community was overwhelming.  Social media posts had a reach of 45,000 over two months, with average engagement of 8.3%.  The videos generated valuable, and validating, conversations on social media.  The campaign also led to featured parents becoming incidental  community champions for perinatal mental health, which they accepted enthusiastically.

This project demonstrates the power of local faces and lived experience in developing low-cost impactful messaging, building positive partnerships, and empowering individuals and communities.

16

Talking resilience with Betty Bounceback

Aimee Howard & Sue Luketina
Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service

This session provides a look at "Talking Resilience with Betty Bounceback".  This short film introduces the character Betty who provides us with tips and information regarding resilience.  The film features a range of Kimberley people, who share their thoughts and views.

Aimee and Sue travelled to various parts of the Kimberley, with Goolarri Media, to meet and talk with people - young and old, and from a range of environments and cultural backgrounds.

It was the intention of the film producers to create a resource that is suitable for a wide range of audiences.  The film has now been launched around the Kimberley community.  It is planned to use the film as a training tool for various social, emotional well-being courses and at different events that promote positive emotional development and good mental health.

Aimee and Sue will introduce the film and provide further details regarding the background and processes needed to develop the character and film.

It is hoped that the character of Betty Bounceback will be seen again through the film, written prevention materials and even in real life to continue promoting positive messages focussing on building and maintaining resilience. 

17

Wheatbelt suicide prevention project - delivering suicide prevention through a collectiv impact lens

Jo Drayton
Holyoake

Holyoake has delivered Suicide Prevention within the Wheatbelt for more than 7 years. In 2022 Holyoake created the Wheatbelt Suicide Prevention Project (WSPP) through funding from HPN. This presentation covers concept design, integrated implementation and showcases the outcomes WSPP has achieved in its first 18 months.

In designing the WSPP Holyoake overlayed a Collective Impact Framework with evidence-based suicide prevention models resulting in a 4-pillar model:

1. Primary Care.

Delivery of Mental Health literacy, Suicide Prevention training and audio-visual display resources for Doctors, Pharmacists and Health Department staff.

2. Broad Network Free Education and Training.

Provision of free place-based and online Mental Health and Suicide Awareness and Prevention training.

3. Community Grants.

A grant round for organisations to deliver place-based grassroot suicide prevention activity in conjunction with the WSPP governance committee.

4. Community Champions.

Identification of community champions who want to increase safety within their communities.

The success of the model is underpinned by the high level of engagement and integration of projects with partners including those who have not historically been involved in Suicide Prevention. This presentation will outline three collaborative partnerships that have resulted in unique projects:

Country Football Wellbeing Program (CFWP) - A pilot project with 20 Clubs which provides communication, education and environmental strategies clubs can adopt. Participating clubs are rewarded for their engagement.

#DEADLYGIRLSMATTER Project - WSPP partnered with Shooting Stars and Deadly Minds Matter to fund an authentic youth co-designed wellbeing project. The project reached 115 students over 3 months.

Engagement with Local Government Authorities - Wheatbelt LGA’s are accessing and utilising the WSPP to assist them in undertaking mental health & wellbeing and suicide prevention activity as part of the changes to their Public Health Plans.

18

The Ripple Effect: A collaborative approach to rural and remote postvention

Isabel Ross & Elizabeth Lockyer
WA Country Health Service

There is an overwhelming amount of evidence to support the notion that people exposed to, affected by, and bereaved by suicide are at a 2-5 times increased risk of dying by suicide themselves. The 2021 – 2025 WA Suicide Prevention Framework lists individuals and groups affected by suicide as a priority population and has included Postvention as one of four streams implemented across the state to reduce suicide deaths in WA.

The Midwest Mental Health Promotion Coordinator (MMHPC) role was established with WACHS in 2018, and has spent the last five years building from scratch a comprehensive, and collaborative, postvention response throughout the region.

To achieve this, the MMHPC established, and continues to refine a region wide Postvention Coordination Committee, involving various Government, NGO, regional and lived experienced representatives. Through this committee a notification and response procedure has been developed, enabling a timely and consistent response to suicide deaths in the region. The committee meet quarterly to review and improve this procedure, as well as each individual postvention response, enabling constant quality improvement and flexibility to respond to and meet the community’s needs.

With the establishment of this committee and procedure, gradually and significantly improved inter-service collaboration, and increased community awareness, 100% of suicides occurring in the region are now responded to in a timely and effective manner.

19

WACHS Wheatbelt suicide postvention - creating pathways for collaborative critical responses following sudden death/suspected suicide

Tendai Makanyanga
WA Country Health Service

The objectives of Suicide Postvention activities are to:

  • Minimise further harm to bereaved individuals, families and communities;
  • Ensure a locally coordinated, appropriate and safe response to meeting the support needs of those bereaved by suicide;
  • Ensure that the most appropriate agency provides the support based on the persons’ or families’ needs;
  • Promote safe practice in supporting those who are bereaved;
  • Be culturally responsive; and monitor trends and gather research about the prevalence of suicide.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Inclusion Criteria is individuals/ families/ communities that are bereaved by suicide. No time limit to the bereavement, as the grief, loss and sadness does not really end. The focus is more on those most recently bereaved by suicide, and who have had an impact to their daily function; who are facing mental health challenges such as low mood and anxiety; with a clearer focus on those who are at risk of suicide and/or self-harm themselves and who may who have presented to hospital in a crisis.

Encompasses three distinct categories of those bereaved by suicide:

a) The deceased has passed away within the Wheatbelt, bereaved is in the Wheatbelt

b) The deceased has passed away outside the Wheatbelt, but bereaved are in the Wheatbelt

c) The deceased has passed away in the Wheatbelt, the bereaved are outside the Wheatbelt

WACHS WB Suicide Postvention provides clinical mental health assessment and suicide risk assessment of individuals bereaved by suicide, who may be at risk of suicide themselves. The aim will ultimately be to lead towards reduced sudden death/suspected suicides in the region.