Reports and publications

Protocols for the delivery of social and emotional well being and mental health services in Indigenous communities: guidelines for health workers, clinicians, consumers and carers: first edition

Posted on: 2 November, 2009
Issue: Vol 9 No 4, October 2009 - December 2009
Related to Cultural ways Social and emotional wellbeing Queensland Indigenous health workers

Haswell M, Hunter E, Wargent R, Hall B, O’Higgins C, West R (2009)
Protocols for the delivery of social and emotional well being and mental health services in Indigenous communities: guidelines for health workers, clinicians, consumers and carers: first edition
Cairns, QLD: Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative, Queensland Health

This manual provides a set of protocols for the delivery of social and emotional wellbeing and mental health services in Indigenous communities. It is oriented towards communities in Queensland, but contains practical information for anyone working in the area of Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing. The manual is designed to be used by a range of health professionals, including: clinicians, primary health care workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, but also consumers and their carers. The guidelines aim to support appropriately flexible, but well-informed and consistently applied pathways for care planning and management. The manual consists of two parts:

  • Part one: A framework for understanding and supporting social and emotional wellbeing and mental health with Indigenous peoples. This section provides a background to Indigenous mental health and treatment, and includes tools for pathways of care.
  • Part two: guidelines for supporting consumers with specific mental health disorders. This section covers depression, anxiety disorders, self-harming behaviours, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract