Indigenous adult mental health outcomes project in the Cairns network far North Queensland

This project used multi-faceted, collaborative approaches to enhance; then monitor, the systematic collection of standardised clinician-rated Outcomes information with Indigenous adult consumers across the Far North Queensland mental health network. While the project was led by University of Queensland researchers, valuable input was provided by Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, health information and service managers, trainers, clinicians and stakeholders including remote area consumers and carers in Queensland, as well as experts from Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand. It is hoped that the research questions, study design, methods used and the reflections presented in this report have captured the diversity of views and issues raised by these valued collaborators. Given that the focus here is on Indigenous Mental Health Outcomes, it was essential that discourse at all stages of the project privileged the views of Australian Indigenous people. In later stages, input was also provided by members of the Maori Monitoring and Implementation Group of the Mental Health – Standardised Measures of Assessment and Recovery Team (MH-SMART), who are addressing similar issues in New Zealand. Through such processes, the researchers aimed to highlight shared Indigenous perspectives about ways that Indigenous mental health could be better understood, assessed and addressed. Mental health information has a particularly high risk of cross-cultural inaccuracy as it relies on exceptional communication and understanding. Hence Indigenous input into its collection, analysis and interpretation is essential. The findings of this report add quantitative support to this perspective and there is ample literature and policy directing this approach (Queensland Mental Health Policy Statement: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, 1996, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Research Agenda Working Group, 2003, NHMRC, 2003). Above all, this report aims to assist Australia to collect and interpret as accurate and useful information on Mental Health Outcomes of Indigenous consumers to guide informed action towards improvement. The researchers acknowledge the limitations of this project’s findings and interpretations and welcome feedback. Please click Contact Author