165322 - Mental Health, it's not black and white

Join the team from Nunkuwarrin Yunti for an interactive workshop exploring the three legged “milking stool” and culturally validated screening tools, through simulated consultations, Panel Discussion and exposure to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well-being Frameworks.

An estimated 88% of the Australian population visit their general practice in a year, thereby making it an ideal location for identifying and managing mental health symptoms experienced by patients. 

Providing mental health services in primary healthcare involves diagnosing and treating people with mental disorders; putting in place strategies to prevent mental disorders and ensuring that primary health care workers are able to apply key psycho-social and behavioural science skills, for example, interviewing, counselling and interpersonal skills, in their day to day work in order to improve overall health outcomes in primary healthcare. 

Rates of high or very high psychological distress in the South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 18 years and over are 2.5 times those of non-Indigenous South Australians aged 18 years and over, 34% compared to 14%.