Reflections on culture in practice amongst team leaders and directors in Australian public mental health services

ObjectiveThis study explores team leaders’ and directors’ perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to effective mental health care to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients in the public mental health system across greater Brisbane, Australia. This is critical giv...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical psychologist (Australian Psychological Society) Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14
Main Authors Richardson, Charlotte D., Murray, Kate E., Otero Forero, Andrés
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Melbourne Taylor & Francis Ltd 02.01.2024
Subjects
Clinical decision making
Cultural sensitivity
Data collection
Decision makers
Evaluation
Health planning
Health research
Health status
Mental health care
Mental health services
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Public health
Specialized services
Teams
Australia
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:ObjectiveThis study explores team leaders’ and directors’ perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to effective mental health care to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients in the public mental health system across greater Brisbane, Australia. This is critical given Australia’s cultural diversity and treatment limitations and gaps for CALD clients.MethodA purposive sample of decision-makers working in the public mental health system (N = 6) completed semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was undertaken to identify dominant themes.ResultsParticipants discussed planning, delivery, and evaluation of culturally inclusive and effective mental health care. When planning for culturally appropriate services, collaboration with internal services, such as multicultural specialist services, was the most frequently discussed facilitator, while limited resources were the most identified barrier. Clinicians’ cultural sensitivity and biases were identified as an important influence on service delivery. Participants identified significant gaps in evaluation and limited data collection to support the evaluation of cultural safety within services.ConclusionThe findings provide insight into systemic factors affecting culturally inclusive and safe practices in an Australian public mental health setting. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.
ISSN:1328-4207
1742-9552
DOI:10.1080/13284207.2024.2302586