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Monitoring mental health and suicide prevention reform: Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Pre

Priority Area 4: Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and suicide prevention

The Fifth Plan states the following will be different for consumers and carers:

  • • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers and carers will receive coordinated care and will be supported to navigate the mental health system.
  • • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers and carers will have both their clinical and social and emotional wellbeing needs, and the needs of their community, addressed when care is planned and delivered.
  • •Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers and carers will receive culturally appropriate support.

Due to the small number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents, the 2020 survey results are unlikely to represent the experience of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receiving mental health care. As such comparisons with survey results from 2019 have not been made and the Commission recommends caution when interpreting the following results.

Of the nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents in 2020, four respondents reported they, or the person they care for ‘sometimes’ received help or support to use the mental health system when they needed it, and two reported they ‘always’ received support when needed.

Three out of nine respondents reported all their needs and the needs of their community were ‘rarely’ considered when providers were planning their care, and a further four respondents reported this ‘sometimes’ happened.

Six out of nine respondents said they felt their treatment, care or support was ‘usually’ or ‘always’ culturally appropriate in the last 12 months.

Previous Survey results by Fifth Plan priority area Priority Area 3: Coordinating treatment and supports for people with severe and complex mental illne
Next Survey results by Fifth Plan priority area Priority Area 5: Improving the physical health of people living with mental illness and reducing ear
Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag

Acknowledgement of Country

The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia.
We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past present and emerging, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

Diversity

The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lived Experience

We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.