Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative

Conducting trials of interventions for people with CRMD across three main streams (contexts): (i) High Support stream focuses on improving outcomes for CRMD patients who need high support interventions. Intervention priorities are (a) collaborative goal setting and homework that maximises ongoing self management of physical and mental health and (b) interventions that can be transported and sustained in multiple ; setting (rehabilitation /community case management). (ii) Rural stream examines interventions to reduce recurrence and to improve physical health behaviours in people with any chronic or recurring mental disorder, with particular emphasis on depression. Brief interventions by general practitioners and mental health staff will be supplemented by a series of correspondence based treatments (eg. for depression and alcohol misuse) and initiatives of self help organisations, services and local councils. (iii) The Indigenous stream aims to implement service and setting adapted interventions targeting CRMDs across the mental health spectrum of interventions (patient information systems, best practice specialist and primary care treatment protocols and models of service delivery, mental health outcome measures and community based support activities in order to obtain demonstrable improvements in mental health outcomes in 2 regions of remote northern Australia. Intervention programs will be conducted and evaluated for the duration of the study. Early detection (screening for chronic disease and provision of brief interventions in health issues including smoking exercise, nutrition, alcohol consumption and sexual health), best practice primary prevention and clinical care programs under the Chronic Disease Strategy is being implemented as a vehicle for improving the health status of rural and remote indigenous people.