Mental Health Context in Australia

Here are some essential concepts that may help you understand the mental health landscape in Australia with resource links to guide your learning.

Stepped Care approach to mental healthcare

Stepped care is an evidence-based model of mental health service provision that aligns the level of intervention with the impact and severity of the individual needs. This approach is designed to provide continuity and collaboration across services within a local area. The stepped-care approach recognises the importance of universal care, prevention, and early intervention as important elements of mental health care to a community, in addition to individual therapies.

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Recovery Oriented Practice

Recovery is a personal journey of building and maintaining well-being while coping with a mental illness. The approach to recovery varies based on the individual and their circumstances. Organizations and services that offer mental health support in our local communities follow a recovery-oriented approach. This approach is based on the idea that everyone, regardless of their mental illness, possesses unique strengths and abilities, and is entitled to evidence-based interventions for their overall health and well-being.

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Trauma Informed Care

Trauma disrupts, can impact individuals or whole communities, and can take an individual a long time to recover the right supports and services aren’t in place or accessible. The biological reactions and physical effects of trauma have become better understood in recent years. Individuals, service providers, and organisations need to be informed on how trauma impacts people and the practical ways to assist and prevent re-traumatisation.  Key principles of trauma-informed care are safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and respect for diversity.

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