A service map designed to assist people in the Kimberley to more easily find and access important mental health, alcohol and other drugs and social and emotional wellbeing services has been launched in the lead up to Mental Health Week.
As part of the No Wrong Door service integration project – an initiative of the Kimberley Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Trial – the Kimberley Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Service Map aims to make access to services easier for community members and improve the cultural safety and “helpfulness” of services.
In the Kimberley, organisations may not have an office or point of contact based in all the communities they service, which can make finding a service difficult.
The map will assist service providers in referring people to the right place, no matter where or when someone in crisis arrives on their doorstep.
The service map is designed for easy navigation, with a section for each town and surrounding communities and an additional section listing digital services. Identifying symbols are displayed next to each listing to create a quick guide to the level of support provided.
Organisations from across the Kimberley have worked together to improve the access and experience of service users, meet the needs of community, including young people, and ensure cultural safety in service models and delivery in the region.
The Kimberley Aboriginal Health Planning Forum will manage future governance of the map so information is kept current and available.
Executive Manager Mental Health Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Kristen Orazi, said: “People in the Kimberley often say the biggest barrier for them in accessing support is knowing what services they can contact to ask for help.”
“We want people across the region to know that if they are worried about their social and emotional wellbeing or worried about someone else in their family or community – there are services and supports available.”
“Our services have worked together to develop this service map as a resource for people in the Kimberley to be able to easily see who provides support to their community, who they can contact for help with their Social and Emotional Wellbeing.”
WA Primary Health Alliance, General Manager Commissioned Services, Mark Cockayne, said: “The Kimberley Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Trial has achieved many things, but one of the most important is the willingness of service providers to come together and develop practical solutions for complex problems, such as this service map, for the good of the community.
“Our local Kimberley team has worked hand in hand with Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services and other agencies in the region to develop this wonderful resource. Well done to all who contributed their time and expertise.”
Background
- In March 2019, a No Wrong Door workshop was attended by 41 Kimberley participants representing 25 organisations and communities. The Workshop, (funded through the Kimberley Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Trial) set out a plan to establish the No Wrong Door project group to lead improvements and set objectives for the region.
- The objectives identified included improving service process to make access easier for community members and improve the cultural safety and “helpfulness” of the service system in the region.
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