Hartman D. The Napranum social and emotional wellbeing week. Australas Psychiatry 17 Suppl 1:S88 (2009)
The project was requested by the local community; planning involved extensive consultation between Queensland Health, community lead...
Australas Psychiatry
1039-8562
17 Suppl 1
S88-S91
OBJECTIVE: A week-long intensive outreach project to the Indigenous community of Napranum was undertaken by a Community Forensic Mental Health Service with the aim of developing the community's capacity for primary and secondary prevention of forensic mental health problems. METHOD: The process of developing and implementing the project is described. The outcome is evaluated by means of qualitative feedback from community members and participants. RESULTS: The project was requested by the local community; planning involved extensive consultation between Queensland Health, community leaders and local service providers; and it was delivered with extensive contributions from other Queensland Health services, various non-government organizations, Indigenous opinion-leaders and public media, and an NRL football team. The outcomes are sustainable at a local level. CONCLUSIONS: This form of community engagement may contribute to destigmatization of mental illness in Indigenous communities, increased engagement between these communities and mental health service providers, and increased cohesiveness and morale of these communities.
Adolescent Forensic Mental Health Service, Townsville, QLD, Australia. david_hartman@health.qld.gov.au
OBJECTIVE: A week-long intensive outreach project to the Indigenous community of Napranum was undertaken by a Community Forensic Mental Health Service with the aim of developing the community's capacity for primary and secondary prevention of forensic mental health problems. METHOD: The process of developing and implementing the project is described. The outcome is evaluated by means of qualitative feedback from community members and participants. RESULTS: The project was requested by the local community; planning involved extensive consultation between Queensland Health, community leaders and local service providers; and it was delivered with extensive contributions from other Queensland Health services, various non-government organizations, Indigenous opinion-leaders and public media, and an NRL football team. The outcomes are sustainable at a local level. CONCLUSIONS: This form of community engagement may contribute to destigmatization of mental illness in Indigenous communities, increased engagement between these communities and mental health service providers, and increased cohesiveness and morale of these communities.
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PMID: 19579116
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DOI: 10.1080/10398560902948589
Keywords: Community Mental Health Services, Forensic Medicine, Health Education, Health Services, Indigenous, Humans, Mental Disorders, Mental Health, Oceanic Ancestry Group, Outcome Assessment (Health Care), Queensland, Residence Characteristics, Stereotyping, organization & administration, psychology