Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative (AIMhi) Northern Territory

Project Name: Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative (AIMhi) Northern Terrotiry
CRCAH Project No. SE63 Administering organisation University of Queensland Program Manager Vanessa Harris Project Leader David Kavanagh (University of Queensland) Tricia Nagel, Northern Territory site (Menzies School of Health Research) Team members Carolyn Thompson, John Cusack, Neil Spencer, Daniel Mulholland, Jenni Judd, Valerie Thompson, Pat Bradley Contact details Dr Tricia Nagel Valerie Thompson Tel: 08 8922 7943 Fax: MSHR Email: tricia.nagel@menzies.edu.au Funding sources CRC for Aboriginal Health, Commonwealth Department of Health and Community Services, National Health and Medical Research Council, Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund In kind contributors: Department of Health and Community Services, Top End Division of General Practice Partners involved University of Queensland Top End Mental Health Services Top End Division of General Practice

Project Name: Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative (AIMhi) Northern Terrotiry

CRCAH Project No. SE63

Administering organisation
University of Queensland

Program Manager
Vanessa Harris

Project Leader
David Kavanagh (University of Queensland)
Tricia Nagel, Northern Territory site (Menzies School of Health Research)

Team members
Carolyn Thompson, John Cusack, Neil Spencer, Daniel Mulholland, Jenni Judd, Valerie Thompson, Pat Bradley

Contact details
Dr Tricia Nagel
Valerie Thompson
Tel: 08 8922 7943
Fax: MSHR
Email: tricia.nagel@menzies.edu.au

Funding sources
CRC for Aboriginal Health, Commonwealth Department of Health and Community Services, National Health and Medical Research Council, Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund

In kind contributors: Department of Health and Community Services, Top End Division of General Practice

Partners involved

University of Queensland
Top End Mental Health Services
Top End Division of General Practice

Project summary
This project aims to improve outcomes for remote Indigenous clients of mental health services in remote Top End communities over five years. Two key interventions are planned over the five years: development of two-way mental health promotion resources (for health professionals, clients and carers) and development of new approaches to service delivery.

Summary of projected outcomes
The primary objectives of the AIMhi project are:

Improved primary care management of mental disorders in remote Indigenous communities.
Improved specialist service delivery to residents of remote communities.
Improved mental health literacy of residents and service providers in remote Indigenous communities.
Increased capacity to manage mental illness within communities.
Development of a research team focused on Indigenous mental health in the Northern Territory.
Enhanced capacity of Northern Territory Indigenous researchers in the field of mental health.
Production of practice guidelines for the management of mental illness in Indigenous communities.
Improved data collection and use relevant to Indigenous mental health.

Summary of project implementation

The Northern Territory project entails:

a story-telling project—development of culturally appropriate mental health tools, 2003–08;
Remote Service Provider survey 2003 and follow up, 2007;
randomised controlled trial of a brief intervention, 2003–07;
service provider training in care planning and brief interventions, 2006–07;
development of mental health audit for ABCDE project, 2005–06;
development of pictorial assessment and treatment tools, 2003–07.

Download a copy of the:

Fact Sheet

Related links
www.menzies.edu.au/AIMHI

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