Mental Health Services for Remote Aboriginal Communities

Running head: ASSESSMENT 3
Mental Health Services for Remote Aboriginal Communities
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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ASSESSMENT 3
Introduction
The type of the service delivery holds prominence in the overall outcome of the
service. In mental health service delivery holds significant prominence (McGorry, Bates &
Birchwood, 2013). McGorry, Bates and Birchwood (2013) highlighted that proper service
delivery helps to increase consumer’s participation while decreasing the cost of care and at
the same time helps to improve the overall mental health outcomes. The following essay aims
to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of mental health service delivery approach
through face-to-face service delivery model and virtual service delivery model. The main
target population include the Aboriginals residing in the remote areas of Australia and
suffering from mental health complications. The essay will initiate will rational behind the
chosen target population and positive and negative aspects of face-to-face and virtual service
delivery model. The essay will them aim to critique the limitations and advantages of
delivery counselling and community campaign through face-to-face and virtual service
delivery model. At the end the essay will highlight the personal opinion of the authors and
will propose the required recommendation in order to overcome the challenges of the
healthcare service delivery promote professional development among the mental healthcare
workers.
Population selected: Australian aboriginal
Australian Aboriginal have higher risk of developing unhealthy behaviours like
smoking and drinking and the condition is worse in comparison to the people living in
metropolitan areas (Parker & Milroy, 2014). As per the statistics 34.8% of Aboriginals
resides in cities in comparison to the 70% of non-indigenous population. The statistics also
highlights that 7.7% of the Aboriginal population resides in remote and 13.7% of population
resides in very remote areas (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). These groups of

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ASSESSMENT 3
Aboriginal population residing in remote or very remote areas mainly suffer from poor
mental health conditions and high rate of occurrence of chronic or other preventable disease
which in turn decreases the overall life-expectancy of the population. This poor health status
increasing with remoteness may be influenced by geographical and environmental factors
like long distance access to services. Another condition underlying the poor physical and
mental health status is guided by poor socio-economic determinants of health (Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). Thus remoteness and poor health status are the
underlying causes behind their vulnerability towards poor health-related outcomes. Thus this
selected group of population will be helpful in structuring a critique about mental health
service delivery.
Service Delivery in Mental Health in Aboriginal Population
As per the guidance document published by the Australian Government Department
of Health (2016) in relation to $85 million funding (2016-17 to 2018-19) granted specifically
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health services, the mental health services
must be integrated, safe and culturally competent in order to meet their mental health
requirements. Aboriginals’ mental health services under this funding are specifically directed
towards suicide prevention, substance abuse and effective mental health counselling in order
to overcome depression and anxiety. These services are to link and complement with other
closely connected activities like emotional and social wellbeing. According to Slade et al.
(2014), in order to devise holistic mental health services, two main service delivery
approaches that are required to be undertaken include face-to-face service and virtual service
delivery.

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ASSESSMENT 3
Face-to-face service delivery
Face-to-face service delivery is a condition where the staffs are required to work live
within the community in order to deliver the service. The main advantage of face-to-face
service delivery in mental health includes working directly with the client and thus helping to
develop-person centred care plan. However, face-to-face service delivery in healthcare is
associated with sudden disadvantages like cost of recruitment or employee retention, poor
knowledge of the staffs about cultural competencies, occupational health risk and problem in
the work life balance of the healthcare service delivery staffs (Mohr et al., 2013).
Virtual service delivery
This service delivery approach is mainly given through phone, or through online
video calls through skype. The main advantage of this approach is, it is cost effective and
helps in easy access and prompt access of patient information through electronic medical
records and thereby helping to implement effective multidisciplinary care approach
(Christensen & Petrie, 2013). According to Christensen and Petrie (2013), Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) at present is regarded as key towards accelerating
advances in mental health. The review conducted by Hollis et al. (2015) revealed virtual
service delivery in mental health through digital technology has potential to transform mental
healthcare service delivery model through connecting patients, services and healthcare data
from different parts of the world. However, the disadvantages of virtual service delivery
through the use of softcopy data include bridging of confidentiality and transparency and
accountability. Moreover, Hollis et al. (2015) also highlighted there exist a gap in the
evidence based underlying these technologies.
Type of Mental Health
Services
Face-to-Face service delivery Virtual service delivery