MHIMA - FRAMEWORK FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA: TOWARDS CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE SERVICE DELIVERY

ORGANISATIONS - IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE - Consumer, carer, and family participation

Consumer and carer participation is a central tenet in mental health policies and plans. Set standards and benchmarks are outlined in the National Standards for Mental Health Services 2010. Participation encompasses a range of processes in which consumers, carers and family members are engaged to have their say at both individual and system levels and in the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of services.

CALD consumer and carer participation varies across jurisdictions, and generally lags behind mainstream achievements in participation. There are important factors to consider and acknowledge when working with CALD consumers and carers as participation may be understood differently by diverse cultural groups.

The key cultural factors impacting participation levels are known to be:

Barriers such as stigma and shame, differing explanatory models of mental illness, low levels of mental health literacy, inappropriate or unfamiliar engagement strategies, and language barriers must be addressed before meaningful participation can be achieved.

KEY OUTCOME AREA 1: CONSUMER, CARER AND FAMILY PARTICIPATION

CALD consumers & carers effectively participate at all levels of mental health service planning, delivery and evaluation

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