Aims and purpose: The Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative (AIMHI) is a five-year NHMRC funded project aiming to improve indigenous mental health outcomes in the remote Top End. The delivery of services at Top End remote clinic level occurs in a setting of limited mental health training, poor mental health literacy and limited English language literacy. There is a need for culturally appropriate mental health information, effective and brief interventions, and tools for relapse prevention.
Method: AIMHI NT has been conducting a randomised controlled trial in two remote Aboriginal communities in the Top End. The trial compares a brief intervention-‘motivational care planning’-with ‘treatment as usual’ in clients with chronic mental illness. The core components of the intervention include: motivational interviewing, self-management principles, family involvement, and psycho education.
An 18-month randomized controlled trial with delayed treatment group was used – with data collected at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months.
Preliminary findings: Key findings were that:
There was a high rate of engagement and retention of participants in the ‘talking treatment’ trial.
A profile of strengths and stressors and goals for the communities was developed which highlighted the importance of family and traditional activities.
Depression, substance misuse and psychosis were key psychiatric disorders.
There were high base line rates of emotional distress and high K10 scores amongst clients and carers.
Conclusions: In summary the project has shown that the packages are feasible and acceptable. The base line findings have been integrated into a training package for primary care and other service providers.
